California Injury Blog

Published on: December 4, 2008

San Bernardino County Big Rig Accident Kills Woman

By Brian Chase

Sang Kyung Oh, a 38-year-old San Jose woman, was killed in a big rig accident on a Mojave Desert highway on November 30, 2008. According to this news report in the San Jose Mercury News, Oh was a riding in a 2008 Kia Spectra westbound on Highway 58 in San Bernardino County near Kramer Junction. A semi truck that failed to brake in response to slowing traffic crashed into the back of the car, pushing it into the eastbound lanes at which time it was broadsided by an eastbound semi truck.

Oh was pronounced dead at the scene, California Highway Patrol officials said. The Kia’s driver, a 29-year-old man, suffered serious, but non-life threatening injuries. No one else was injured in this fatal big rig crash.

I offer my deepest condolences to the family of Sang Kyung Oh. My heart goes out to the driver of the Kia, who was severely injured. I wish him the very best for a speedy and complete recovery. Please keep these victims and their families in your prayers.
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Published on: December 3, 2008

Los Angeles Teen Killed – Van Plows Into Bus Shelter

By Brian Chase

A 14-year-old boy was killed and four other teens suffered injuries in a Los Angeles auto versus pedestrian accident on December 1, 2008. This horrific accident occurred when a van jumped a curb and slammed into a bus shelter in South Gate. The 12/1/08 crash occurred on Firestone Boulevard and Otis Street at a bus stop across the street from South Gate Middle School just minutes after school had let out. The driver of the out-of-control black Chevrolet van was identified as 18-year-old Eduardo Rojo of South Gate. Our source for this blog is this news report in the Los Angeles Times.

The 14-year-old boy was taken to an area hospital where he later passed away. The four other teenagers suffered non life threatening injuries. Los Angeles Police Department officials said Rojo’s passenger leaped out of the van and fled the scene as soon as the crash occurred. In addition to the five students who were struck, one other student fainted at the sight of the crash and suffered a minor head injury.
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Published on: December 3, 2008

San Bernardino ATV Rollover Accident Kills Man

By Brian Chase

An Upland man who died in a San Bernardino all-terrain vehicle accident on November 29, 2008 has been identified as 28-year-old Victor V. Ortiz. According to this news Web site, Ortiz was on an off-road quad vehicle (or ATV) when it overturned on Soggy Dry Lake, about three miles north of Highway 247 in Lucerne Valley. Ortiz, who was not wearing a helmet, was ejected from the ATV. Ortiz was transported to an Apple Valley hospital where he was pronounced dead.

I offer my heartfelt condolences to the family of young Victor Ortiz who was killed in this 11/29/08 ATV rollover crash.

We often see a spurt in ATV accidents during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, especially in California where the weather is conducive for outdoor activities year-round. California is among the states that have a high number of ATV accident related fatalities. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s ATV safety Web site, there were a total of 312 ATV accident related deaths reported in California between 2003 and 2006. Nationwide, 555 ATV accident deaths were reported in 2006 and about 146,000 people were treated in the country’s emergency rooms for ATV accident related injuries.
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Published on: December 2, 2008

Torrance Pedestrian Accident Causes Serious Injuries

By Brian Chase

A 54-year-old Long Beach man critically injured by a car on November 27, 2008 while getting out of his vehicle in Torrance has been identified as David Reichle. He was standing next to his car in the 2700 block of 232nd Street on the morning of 11/27/08 when he was hit by a passing motorist. The female driver who hit Reichle stopped at the scene and apparently told officials that she thought she had only hit Reichle’s car door. Our source for this blog is a news article in the Daily Breeze.

This is obviously a tragic accident And David Reichle will be in my prayers. I wish him the very best for a quick and complete recovery.
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Published on: December 2, 2008

Pit Bulls Attack and Kill Livestock in Mendocino County

By Brian Chase

Pit bulls on the loose have been attacking and killing livestock by the hundreds in Mendocino County, according to this news report in the Press Democrat. So far no dog attacks on humans have been reported. A federal trapper who talked to the newspaper said he has killed at least 90 pit bulls while in the act of killing or chasing livestock just in the last two years. Many other pit bulls have been trapped and turned over to animal control.

Law enforcement officials in Mendocino County blame the increase in the number of dangerous and vicious dogs in the area to the cultivation of marijuana for medical uses in this area. They say marijuana growers are suspected of bringing these dogs to guard their gardens in the remote northern part of Mendocino County. These pit bulls apparently have been a huge problem for those who own livestock in the area. The dogs have killed ewes, miniature horses and a variety of other livestock. Officials say that while wild predators tend to kill one animal at a time to eat, pit bulls chase and kill or badly maim livestock just for fun. To them, it’s sport.
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Published on: December 1, 2008

Lawndale Bicycle versus Garbage Truck Collision Kills Man

By Brian Chase

Elijah Miclea, 56, of Hawthorne was killed in a Lawndale bicycle accident on November 24, 2008 when he was struck by a Waste Management garbage truck, the Daily Breeze reports. The 11/24/08 fatal bicycle accident occurred at Marine Avenue and Hawthorne Boulevard. Miclea was on a bicycle on the southeast corner of the intersection when the Waste Management truck made a right turn and collided with the bicycle. Miclea was knocked down and fell under the wheels. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

My heart goes out to the family and friends of Elijah Miclea for their tragic loss. I offer my deepest condolences to them.
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Published on: November 30, 2008

El Cajon Woman Suffers Brain Injuries from Nursing Home Negligence

By Brian Chase

A 44-year-old woman who suffered permanent brain damage as a result of poor care she received in an El Cajon County owned nursing home has been awarded $1.6 million in a court settlement. Ruth Lomeo suffered severe brain injuries after she was given excessive pain medication at Edgemoor Geriatric Hospital in Santee. Staff at the nursing home also waited 20 minutes to call 911 after Lomeo began to have breathing problems. Lomeo sustained brain damage from lack of oxygen. Our source for this blog was a news report in the San Diego Union Tribune.

Nursing home officials contended that they had done nothing wrong and said that the nursing home had corrected any existing deficiencies. But the point is, those corrections, if they happened, came too late for Ruth Lomeo. In her case, a horrible damage had already been done. Lomeo, a lupus patient, was sent to the nursing home for recovery. Instead, her brain injury has left her with the mental ability of a 5-year-old, unable to care for herself or communicate with her family members. Further, she is going to need 24/7 care for the rest of her life.

The county’s attorney says the nursing home made a “business decision” to settle this case. They were simply concerned that this case could have cost them a lot more if it had gone before a jury. The problem with many nursing homes is that they are becoming more of a business and less of a service. They are becoming increasingly conscious of their profits, which is certainly important. Without profit, any business will cease to exist. However, it is unethical and inhumane for a business, especially one that cares for vulnerable, frail individuals, to put profits over the precious lives of the people they care for.
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Published on: November 28, 2008

Lake Havasu Boating Accident Injures Three from California

By Brian Chase

Three California men – 37-year-old Robert Moody, Sean Swanson, 41, and Gilbert Sanchez, 39 – suffered major injuries in a Lake Havasu boating accident on November 22, 2008, the News-Herald reports. The 11/22/08 accident occurred when the boat the men were riding in crashed into a shoreline just north of Black Meadow Landing on Lake Havasu. San Bernardino County Sheriff’s officials said the boat was traveling at an unknown rate of speed in the dark when it collided with a shoreline on the Arizona side of Lake Havasu.

Robert Moody, who was driving the boat, was listed in critical condition. Sanchez and Swanson suffered multiple fractures and facial injuries. Investigators are looking into what caused this accident and whether it was alcohol-related.

I’m glad the three men involved in this horrific boating accident did not suffer fatal injuries. I hope and pray that they make a quick and complete recovery.
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Published on: November 28, 2008

Rialto Train Crash Caused by Metrolink Running a Red Signal

By Brian Chase

Federal officials who investigated a November 20, 2008 Metrolink train crash in Rialto say the commuter train that sideswiped a freight train had run a red signal, according to an Associated Press news report. Although four commuters suffered relatively minor injuries in this recent train accident, another catastrophic Metrolink accident in Chatsworth on September 12, 2008 killed 25 and injured about 135 people, many critically. In that case, a Metrolink engineer crashed head-on into a Union Pacific freight train because he missed a red signal.

In the most recent train crash in Rialto, the eastbound Metrolink train was carrying 15 passengers and crew members. Investigators for the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said the train failed to stop at a red light about 150 feet from where it hit the rear cars of a Burlington National Santa Fe freight train. Investigators also said that the red signal appeared to have been working at the time of the collision. Officials are now investigating the train’s brakes and its operators as they try to pinpoint a cause.
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Published on: November 27, 2008

City of Industry Bicycle Crash Injures One

By Brian Chase

James McClellan, 76, of Walnut, suffered serious injuries in a City of Industry bicycle versus big rig accident on November 25, 2008. According to this news report in the Pasadena Star News, McClellan was riding his bicycle on Lemon Avenue near Valley Boulevard when he was struck by the big rig. McClellan was pinned under the passenger-side front tire of the big rig. Both his ankles were severely broken, officials said.

Officials say the big rig driver was at fault here. The truck driver and McClellan were both stopped in the street waiting for a train to pass just before this 11/25/08 crash occurred. Once the train passed, the big rig made a right turn from Lemon Avenue onto a side street striking the stopped bicyclist. Officials are calling this an “unfortunate accident” saying that the truck driver did not see McClellan and the bicyclist in turn did not see the moving big rig.

My heart goes out to James McClellan, the elderly bicyclist who was injured in this horrific accident. I wish him the very best for a quick and complete recovery.
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