California Injury Blog

Published on: December 23, 2013

14 Injured in Riverside Bus Accident

By Brian Chase

At least 14 people were injured, one seriously, when a Riverside Transit Authority bus, a car and a tow truck crashed the morning of December 19, 2013. According to a news report in The Press-Enterprise, the incident occurred at Highway 74 and Briggs Road in Romoland. California Highway Patrol officials said the bus was heading west approaching Briggs Road in rainy weather when it slid and spun sideways striking a Pontiac Bonneville that was traveling in the opposite direction. A tow truck following the Bonneville also hit the car.

A 48-year old woman driving the car suffered major injuries and was transported to a regional hospital for treatment. Fire officials said 14 people including the car’s driver were transported to hospitals. Two suffered serious injuries and 12 others suffered minor to moderate injuries. The cause of the crash is under investigation. Investigators are also performing a mechanical inspection of the bus.
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Published on: December 18, 2013

U.S. Army Veteran Killed in Canyon Lake Hit-and-Run Crash

By Brian Chase

Scott Bolger, 32, a U.S. Army veteran who served in Kosovo and the father of twin babies, was killed in a Canyon Lake hit-and-run crash early morning on December 14, 2013. According to a CBS Los Angeles news report, Bolger was at a local tavern with his brother-in-law when he stepped out to have a cigarette. Riverside County Sheriff’s deputies say Bolger stepped into the street and was hit by a car whose driver did not stop. Anyone with information is asked to call Deputy Rabago at the Perris Sheriff’s Station at 951-210-1000.

I offer my deepest condolences to the family members and friends of Scott Bolger, especially his wife and 8-month-old twins. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
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Published on: December 16, 2013

NTSB Investigation Shows Asiana Pilot Ignored Warnings Before Deadly California Plane Crash

By Brian Chase

The commander of an Asiana jet, which crashed in July failed to respond to as many as four separate verbal warnings from a co-pilot that the jet was making its descent too quickly, The Wall Street Journal reports. A public hearing conducted by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) also provided other examples of missed signals, inadequate crew communication and confusion about automated thrust settings in the cockpit before the accident as the plane attempted to land at San Francisco International Airport. The jet, which had no mechanical problems, flew dangerous slow and low with the airport clearly in view before it crashed into a seawall. The crash killed three passengers and injured 180 others.
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Published on: December 13, 2013

16-year-old Girl Killed in Wilmington Car Crash

By Brian Chase

Valentina Dola-Sandro, 16, was killed in a Wilmington car accident after the vehicle in which she was a passenger went out of control and crashed. According to a KTLA news report, the fatal crash occurred the morning of December 7, 2013. Police say she was a passenger in a red 2005 Ford Mustang, which was traveling at a high rate of speed and ran a red light at the intersection of Anaheim Street and Avalon Boulevard.

Valentina had been sitting in the backseat and was ejected from the Mustang when it collided with another vehicle. She died at the scene. The other vehicle flipped during the collision. Four others were injured and transported to area hospitals, but they are all expected to survive. The investigation is still ongoing.
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Published on: December 9, 2013

9-year-old Girl Killed in Rancho Cucamonga Crosswalk Accident

By Brian Chase

Ashlyn Gardner, a 9-year-old girl died, and her 7-year-old brother, Landon, was injured in a San Bernardino pedestrian accident after a pickup truck hit them as they were walking home from school. According to a CBS Los Angeles news report, the fatal accident occurred when Ashlyn and Landon were in a crosswalk the afternoon of December 4, 2013, at the intersection of Banyan Street and East Avenue, a block away from Etiwanda Colony Elementary School. The driver remained at the scene and told police he did not see the children as he made a left turn.
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Published on: December 6, 2013

Man Killed in Highland Hit-and-Run Crash

By Brian Chase

Officials have released the photo of the hit-and-run vehicle, which they believe, crashed into 53-year-old William Alvarez the evening of December 2, 2013. According to a CBS Los Angeles news report, the image released by police shows a 2002 Chevy Blazer with the California license plate 6UTD023, driving away from where Alvarez was fatally struck. Officials say the owner of the vehicle is Tommy Alan Kormillio, who they believe, was also driving the SUV at the time of the collision.
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Published on: December 2, 2013

Three Injured in Perris after Car Crashes into Restaurant

By Brian Chase

Three people were injured, one seriously, after a car plowed into a crowded restaurant in Perris the afternoon of November 24, 2013. According to a news report on CBS Los Angeles, the injury crash occurred at the Sol y Mar Mexican Grill in the 2900 block of Perris Boulevard. One diner suffered major injuries and two others who were hit suffered minor to moderate injuries. All three were transported to the hospital. Police say the 19-year-old driver, later identified as Mario Balverde, was trying to leave the parking lot when he lost control of the vehicle. He was arrested and booked on suspicion of felony DUI resulting in injuries.

My thoughts and prayers are with those who were injured in this incident. I wish them all the very best for a speedy and complete recovery.
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Published on: November 25, 2013

Woman and Boy Injured in Victorville Pit Bull Attack

By Brian Chase

Lupe Rodriguez, 36, and her 7-year-old son, Robert, were injured in a dog attack in Victorville on November 13, 2013. According to a news report in the Victorville Daily Press, the dog bite incident occurred when Rodriguez and her three sons were heading back home after a trip to McDonald’s. Robert was walking with his Happy Meal in hand when a loose pit bull that was roaming the neighborhood bit his leg. When Rodriguez ran over to help her son, the dog turned on her and bit her left arm. Her two other sons and neighbors came to her rescue.
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Published on: November 22, 2013

Former NFL Player Thomas Howard Killed in California Car Crash

By Brian Chase

Former NFL linebacker Thomas Howard suffered fatal injuries in a car crash in Alameda, California. According to a news report in the San Jose Mercury News, the fiery crash occurred early morning on November 18, 2013 on the Interstate 880 in Oakland. California Highway Patrol officials say Howard was driving his BMW northbound at speeds as high as 110 mph when he hit the back of a big rig he was swerving to miss.
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Published on: November 15, 2013

Santa Monica Dog Walker Faces Charges in Dog Bite Case

By Brian Chase

A 26-year-old professional dog walker in Santa Monica was charged with child endangerment after a Staffordshire terrier bit a 4-year-old girl in the leg. According to a news report in the Los Angeles Times. Police say Rebecca McGroerty was walking with the dog inside a home in the 2300 block of 23rd Street on October 19, 2013 when she was attacked. She had to get stitches to close up the wound on her leg. Officials said the dog’s owner had given the dog walker instructions to always have the animal muzzled and on a leash. At the time of the attack, the dog was not muzzled and off leash.
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