California Injury Blog
Two women, one of them identified as 40-year-old Irma Zamora, were killed and five others were injured after a car crash in Valley Village. According to a report in the Los Angeles Daily News, the two women were good Samaritans who rushed to help the occupants of an SUV that crashed into a light pole near the intersection of Magnolia Boulevard and Ben Avenue, the night of August 22, 2012. The collision knocked down light pole and created a highly charged pool of water electrocuting Zamora and the other woman who came forward to help. Five others also suffered electrical shocks and were hospitalized and remain in serious condition. Officials are also looking into why the driver of the SUV lost control of the vehicle.
I offer my deepest condolences to the family members and friends of Irma Zamora and the other deceased victim who had good intentions in trying to save the crash victims. However, they tragically died in the process of doing a good deed. My thoughts and prayers are also with the seriously injured victims of this crash. I wish them the very best for a speedy and complete recovery.
Crash Statistics
According to the California Highway Patrol’s 2010 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were 219 fatalities and 24,561 injuries were reported as a result of Los Angeles car crashes. In Los Angeles County as a whole, 530 people died and 50,153 were injured as a result of car accidents during the same year.
What Caused This Crash?
Based on this news report, it appears that the driver of the SUV lost control and crashed into the light pole. There are still several questions here. Why did the driver of the SUV lose control of the vehicle? Was he under the influence? Was he traveling at an excessive rate of speed? Was there a vehicle defect or mechanical malfunction that may have caused the crash? Were any other vehicles involved? I trust officials are looking into these and other issues in order to determine precisely what occurred here and why.
Officials have also cited this incident to caution the public about helping accident victims. Los Angeles Fire Department officials say good Samaritans must be aware of their surrounding and if there is any question regarding safety, they should wait for emergency personnel to arrive.
Protecting Victims’ Rights
In such cases, injured victims or families of deceased victims would be well advised to contact a skilled car accident lawyer who will stay on top of the official investigation and ensure that their legal rights and best interests are protected. An experienced Los Angeles personal injury lawyer will be able to provide victims and their families with more information about pursuing their legal rights.