California Injury Blog

Published on: February 10, 2009

Speeding Big Rig Driver Caused Fatal Los Angeles County Accident, Officials Say

By Brian Chase

A recent report released by the California Highway Patrol concludes that a big rig driver traveling at an unsafe rate of speed caused the fiery, catastrophic multi-vehicle crash in October 12, 2007. The accident had involved two dozen vehicles including several large trucks in a tunnel on the 5 Freeway in Santa Clarita and left three people dead and many others injured. The collision closed the busy highway for two days and cost Caltrans $17 million in cleanup and repairs. The truck driver, Jose Reyes, who was at fault for this major accident, suffered injuries but survived. Our source for this blog is this Associated Press news report.

CHP’s report concluded that the double-trailer truck with a faulty brake was traveling more than 65 mph when it jackknifed shortly after passing through a curving, dimly-lit bypass tunnel. Officials say although the trucks brakes failed, this fatal big rig accident could have been prevented had the truck driver slowed down given the wet weather and slick road conditions.

The company that owned Reyes’ truck, Saia Inc., is arguing that the CHP’s report is unfair because it failed to give appropriate consideration to a number of critically important factors including a poorly designed and maintained tunnel. A company spokeswoman said that at least 13 drivers in the tunnel were speeding, failing to maintain the legally required following distances. She also stated that four of the big rig drivers who were in the tunnel at the time of the fatal crash were operating in violation of truck drivers hours-of-service regulations. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulates the number of hours truck drivers can operate their big rigs without taking a break.
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Published on: February 10, 2009

San Diego County Bicycle Accident Leaves Man Injured

By Brian Chase

A 19-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of felony hit-and-run the morning of February 7, 2009 after officials say, she struck and seriously injured a bicyclist. According to this news blog in the San Diego Union-Tribune, the car versus bicycle collision occurred in Mira Mesa and the 51-year-old bicycle accident victim suffered serious head injuries as well as injuries to his back and sides. The injured victim’s name has not yet been released.

The hit-and-run driver, who was also not indentified, was apparently driving a Volvo on Calle Cristobal near Camino Miranda when she drifted into the bike lane and struck the bicyclist from behind. The driver did not stop, but left the scene of the accident. She returned to the scene 30 minutes later when officials arrested her. Police say alcohol does not appear to be a factor in this crash.

I’m relieved that this San Diego County bicyclist was not catastrophically or fatally injured. I wish the injured victim the very best for a speedy and complete recovery. He will certainly be in my prayers.
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Published on: February 9, 2009

Man Killed in Riverside County Fire Engine versus Car Collision

By Brian Chase

A 60-year-old West Covina man killed in a collision with a fire truck in Mira Loma has been identified as Agustin Nava Miramontes, according to a news report in The Press Enterprise. Miramontes was killed the morning of February 4, 2009 after his Dodge Ram broadsided a Riverside County fire engine at the intersection of Etiwanda Avenue and Van Buren Boulevard. The impact of the collision flattened the driver’s side of the pickup truck. Miramontes died at the scene. All three firefighters from Mira Loma Station 17 suffered minor injuries and were taken to a local hospital.

The fire engine was apparently responding to an injury auto accident about a block away from where this collision occurred. The southbound engine reached the intersection and a red light. According to eyewitnesses, all lights were red at that intersection except for a green light for eastbound traffic. Miramontes’ Dodge pickup had the green light and continued forward through the intersection crashing with the front passenger side of the engine. The three-man crew was wearing seat belts inside the cab. None of the firefighters’ identities was released.
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Published on: February 8, 2009

Toddler Killed in San Diego County Hit-and-Run Pedestrian Accident

By Brian Chase

A toddler in San Marcos, who was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver the evening of February 4, 2009, has been identified as 18-month-old Christopher Castellanos. The boy, who lived with his parents and siblings in a trailer on Smilax Road near Adeline Court south of State Route 78, apparently wandered out of his yard and on to the roadway when a dark, older-model sedan heading south on Smilax struck him. The driver of the sedan drove away from the scene. Christopher was taken to an area hospital, but died shortly after the accident. Our source for this blog is this news report in the San Diego Union Tribune.

My heart goes out to the family of little Christopher who was killed tragically in this accident. I offer my deepest sympathies to everyone who knew and loved this child. Please keep them in your prayers.

First of all, I trust officials will soon apprehend the hit-and-run driver who fled the scene after striking this child. What kind of a person strikes a toddler and drives away from the scene without even making an attempt to help the child or contact the child’s family? Despicable! If arrested, this person will face criminal hit-and-run charges. Motorists in California are required to stop after an accident occurs – whether or not it was their fault. In this particular case, the accident may not have been the motorist’s fault. We don’t know. But he should have stopped and cooperated with the authorities.
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Published on: February 7, 2009

When You Hit Someone – STOP!

By Brian Chase

I came across this interesting and emotional article on the subject of hit-and-run accidents written by Long Island blogger, Curtis Jackson. He talks about how hit-and-run accidents occur and why people choose not to take responsibility about it. He wonders why someone would deny their mistake and leave their victim to die on the street in a pool of their own blood. These are tough questions. But they are questions we must ask ourselves, especially as residents of Southern California, where hit-and-run accidents are unfortunately all too common.

In his blog, Jackson writes about his own experience causing an accident in the parking lot of a restaurant where he worked as a parking attendant. Apparently no one was injured, but the accident damaged another person’s car. To this day, Jackson says, he feels bad that he didn’t own up to that accident right away. He says: “I am continuously learning how important it is to admit the truth in uncomfortable circumstances before matters get worse.”
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Published on: February 6, 2009

Man Injured in Ventura County Motorcycle versus Car Accident

By Brian Chase

A man who was seriously injured in a Thousand Oaks motorcycle accident on February 2, 2009 has been identified as 33-year-old Ambrosio Rodriguez, the Ventura County Star reports in this article. The collision occurred when Rodriguez who was riding his motorcycle east on Hillcrest Drive hit a Buick Rendezvous pulling out of a parking lot near Boardwalk Avenue.

Rodriguez’s motorcycle apparently struck the passenger side of the Buick being driven by Denis Liu and the impact from the collision caused the Buick to overturn. The car came to rest on its side. Rodriguez was taken to an area hospital while Liu suffered minor injuries.

I’m relieved that this Southern California motorcycle accident did not result in catastrophic or fatal injuries. I wish Ambrosio Rodriguez the very best for a quick and complete recovery. He will be in my prayers.

According to California Highway Patrol’s 2006 statistics, there were 12 deaths and 238 injuries relating to Ventura County motorcycle accidents. In Thousand Oaks, there was one motorcycle accident fatality and 31 injuries during the same period.
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Published on: February 5, 2009

Woman Injured in Placentia Pedestrian Accident

By Brian Chase

A 64-year-old woman who suffered serious injuries in an Orange County pedestrian versus auto accident has been identified as Maria Salinas of Placentia. Salinas was waiting to cross Placentia Avenue at Ruby Drive on January 31, 2009 when the driver of a pickup truck veered to the right, jumped the curb and hit her. Salinas was taken to an area hospital with a broken leg and back and other internal injuries. Our source for this blog is this news report in The Orange County Register.

Placentia police officials say the driver of the pickup, identified as a 20-year-old Fullerton man, was either speeding or did not see the cars stopped in front of him. The driver was not cited or arrested and drunk driving is not suspected.

I’m extremely relieved that this woman was not killed or suffer catastrophic injuries in this Orange County pedestrian accident, which could have been a lot worse. I wish Maria Salinas the very best for a speedy and complete recovery and I’m happy to learn and she is now listed in stable condition.
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Published on: February 5, 2009

Man Killed In Rollover Accident after Striking Debris

By Brian Chase

Frank Kwangsu Kim, 49, of Lake Elsinore was killed in a Chino Hills rollover auto accident the morning of February 3, 2009 after his car hit some debris on the 91 Freeway and crashed. According to this news report, Kim was driving a Nissan Sentra eastbound on the 91 Freeway near Green River Road when the vehicle was struck by debris. Kim lost control of his vehicle and hit the center divider and overturned. Kim suffered major neck injuries and died shortly after the crash. Officials did not say what kind of debris Kim struck on the freeway.

My heart goes out to the family of Frank Kwangsu Kim for their tragic loss. I offer my deepest sympathies to the victim’s family and friends. It is heartbreaking to see that a man was killed because someone else carelessly dropped debris on the freeway.

Hundreds of deaths occur each year in the United States because of debris on the roadway. The California State Department of Transportation (Caltrans) says highway debris has caused 155 California traffic accident deaths just over the last two years. In fact this is the second freeway accident relating to debris in Southern California over the last one week! We just wrote about 52-year-old Leonard Vernon Maxwell who was killed in a January 30, 2009 accident on the 91 Freeway in Corona after his motorcycle struck debris on the freeway.
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Published on: February 5, 2009

Driver in Fatal Bus Crash was Possibly Distracted, Investigators Say

By Brian Chase

Investigators looking into a fatal bus crash in Arizona that killed seven people and injured several others are now saying that the bus driver may have been distracted just before the horrific accident. According to this Associated Press news report, the bus company and the bus driver, 48-year-old Han Dong, were based in Los Angeles County. The charter bus company, D.W. Tour & Charter of San Gabriel, had its charter certificate suspended on Monday by the California Public Utilities Commission. That apparently happened because the company’s liability insurance expired on February 2, 2009.

The Arizona Department of Public Safety has released the names and ages of injured passengers. The names of those were killed have been withheld until their family members can arrive from China. Those who were injured in this accident are: Äî Ying Lei Zhao, 35; Ya Fen Cheng; Shun Xing Zhao, 61; Shuang Wu, 8; Shou Gui Wu, 47; Rui Hua Bao, 35; Tian Yi Xe, 19; Bang Yao Hong, 50; and Yee Kwan Lau, 41.

Based on interviews with three survivors, investigators are checking out Dong’s driving history, medical records and certification to operate the bus. The crash occurred on January 30, 2009 along the U.S. 93 in Arizona and near the Nevada border. The investigation is now focused on whether the driver was possibly distracted for some unknown reason, officials said. They don’t believe, however, that the bus driver was under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of the fatal bus crash.
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Published on: February 4, 2009

Toddler Survives Orange County Near-Drowning Incident

By Brian Chase

A 3-year-old boy in Orange County has survived a near-drowning incident after his older brother rescued him from the bottom of a swimming pool the afternoon of February 1, 2009. According to this news report in The Orange County Register, the boy’s family was visiting a home at Via Divertirse in San Clemente.

Officials said the toddler’s 7-year-old brother, who saw him at the bottom of the backyard swimming pool, dove in and pulled his brother up. The 3-year-old was said to be breathing when paramedics arrived. The toddler is apparently recovering after the near-drowning, but the extent of his injuries is not known.

I’m extremely relieved for the young boy, his family and the hosts who were apparently entertaining this family over the weekend. I wish the young boy the very best for a quick and complete recovery. This family will certainly be in my prayers.

Although it is extremely fortunate that this child did not drown, near-drowning incidents are serious because in these cases, oxygen supply to the brain is cut off, which can leave a child with lifelong brain injuries. Medical expenses in a near-drowning incident could easily run into millions of dollars. Almost every summer, our firm represents a family whose loved one drowned or almost drowned because of the negligence of a homeowner.
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