Wrongful Death

Woman Killed in Cypress Car Accident

April 25, 2017 | by Robert Walch

According to the Whittier Daily News, a La Mirada woman lost her life on Easter Sunday in a three-car crash in Cypress, California. The Cypress car accident took place at Katella Avenue and Valley View Street. According to the coroner, the woman, Alexis Barragan, aged 22, died around 12:40 am and was pronounced dead at the scene. She had been a passenger in a car that was driven by Nicholas Sanchez-McCormick, from Whittier, California.

Through their investigation, the Cypress police officials determined that Sanchez-McCormick had been driving westbound on Katella and ran a red light. His car then crashed into two other vehicles. Cypress law enforcement concluded that Sanchez-McCormick had been driving under the influence of alcohol, and arrested him for vehicular manslaughter and felony drunk driving. At the time of the accident, Sanchez-McCormick already had a DUI case pending against him.

The investigation is still underway, but it appears that the Cypress accident and death were caused by a driver who was operating a vehicle under the influence. Ms. Barragan’s family will have the right to make a wrongful death claim against the driver. The victim’s family should hire a California personal injury attorney experienced in wrongful death claims to handle their claim.

CHP Searching for California Hit and Run Wrongful Death Driver

April 17, 2017 | by Robert Walch

“Leaving Oceanside. See you soon.” This was the last text sent by Christopher Allen Isaacs to his girlfriend, Jennifer Gonzalez, before his untimely wrongful death. Around 5 pm on Friday, April 7, near the Santa Fe Drive exit in Encinitas, Isaacs, just 24 years old, was killed by the unknown driver of a silver Toyota.

According to NBC San Diego, Isaacs had been riding his 1995 Harley-Davidson motorcycle in between two lanes when the Toyota driver switched lanes directly in front of him. After Isaacs’ motorcycle collided with the Toyota, his body was tossed underneath an 18-wheeler. He died from his injuries at the scene.

The tractor-trailer driver, a man from Montebello, was not charged in the motorcycle accident wrongful death. The California Highway Patrol officers are still looking for the driver of the silver Toyota, who fled immediately after the accident.

If the Toyota driver is found and the driver’s negligence caused the death of Isaacs, Isaacs’ family will have the right to seek compensation through a California wrongful death claim. The victim’s family would need to hire a California wrongful death lawyer to determine what types of claims exist and to represent them in pursuing those claims in court. If no responsible party is found, we hope there is a valid uninsured motorist policy to help with the extensive wrongful death damages.

San Diego Wrongful Death Hit and Run

April 12, 2017 | by Robert Walch

A man driving a white SUV ran a red light at Pacific Highway in San Diego when he struck and killed 50-year-old Garold Crosbie. After killing Crosbie, the driver sped off, fleeing the scene. The driver was later identified as 21-year-old David Dominguez, after his passenger alerted police to the incident. This pedestrian accident occurred in the Little Italy area of San Diego.

According to Fox5 San Diego, Dominguez has been charged with gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, DUI, and fleeing the scene. He is currently being held on $1 million dollars’ bail. If convicted, Dominguez could be sentenced to up to 15 years in prison.

Crosbie’s mother, Betty Crosbie, said that her son had been “on a good path” and that his family was proud of him. She added that nothing in court could “make our loss go away.” In this situation, it is likely that Ms. Crosbie has a case for California wrongful death damages against Dominguez for negligently causing the death of her son. While Crosbie’s family would need to speak with a California wrongful death attorney to discuss the specifics, it likely has the right to seek compensation for Crosbie’s death.

Five-Vehicle Crash Kills Man in Bakersfield

April 7, 2017 | by Robert Walch

According to The Tribune, a semi-truck driver hauling grain mush from Firestone Walker Brewing Company was traveling east on Highway 46 around 2 pm on March 31st, when his truck began drifting onto the shoulder. The driver—Charles S. Celaya of Wyoming, tried to bring his truck back onto the road on a right-hand curve. As he did so, his big rig crossed over the divider in the center of the highway and clipped a Dodge Dakota. The clipped Dodge crashed into a Ford F-150 and a Honda Odyssey.

Apparently, the big rig then collided headfirst with a GMC Sierra that had been driving in the opposite direction. Unfortunately, according to police, the GMC driver—68-year-old Jesus Acebedo of Bakersfield—was killed from blunt force trauma in this big rig truck accident.

The police investigation appears to be ongoing; as of now, law enforcement does not believe that drugs or alcohol played a role in this accident. Depending on the outcome of the investigation, the family of the GMC’s driver may be able to make a wrongful death claim against the operator of the big rig truck. We highly recommend that the family hire a California personal injury attorney who is familiar with handling wrongful death cases, to investigate the circumstances of the accident and determine whether such a claim exists.

DUI Crash Kills Wasco Woman and Injures Two Others

April 2, 2017 | by Robert Walch

Kern County Sheriff’s deputies in Wasco took a 50-year-old man into custody under suspicion of driving while intoxicated and failing to yield the right of way after he caused a wrongful death car accident that killed one woman and injured two others. Just before 8 pm on March 30, three cars collided near Prospect Avenue and Highway 43 in Wasco, California.

According to police reports, a man driving a Ford Ranger pulled out in front of a female driver, who was driving a Honda Civic. Sadly, the crash killed the woman. 23ABC News reports that the Kern County Coroner’s office has identified the victim as Carolina Vasquez of Shafter. A 20-year-old man driving a Ford Expedition then crashed into the victim’s Honda. He was injured but he survived the crash. The man arrested was identified as 50-year-old Erwin De La Pena. Authorities are continuing to investigate.

Although the police investigation is ongoing, it appears that the accident was caused by a driver whose blood alcohol content exceeded the legal limit for drivers in California. If it turns out that the driver was intoxicated and caused the crash, the family of the victim would be able to make a wrongful death claim against the driver. The victim’s family would need to hire an experienced California personal injury attorney to determine what types of claims exist and to represent them in pursuing those claims.

Commerce Wrong-Way Driver Accident Kills Three

March 21, 2017 | by Robert Walch

Early on the morning of March 12, 2017, at approximately 5:20 am, a Mini Cooper entered the freeway in Commerce driving the wrong direction. According to the California Highway Patrol, it then ran head-on into a van. According to KTLA, just prior to the accident, individuals had made reports of a wrong-way driver. At the time of the crash, the Highway Patrol had been on their way to the scene.

Sadly, three victims were killed in this California wrongful death accident, including the wrong-way driver and a driver and passenger of the van. The van’s driver— and passenger, a woman and man, as well as the Mini Cooper driver, a man, were all pronounced dead at the scene. According to ABC News, the two males killed were 29-year-old John Perez from Downey and 53-year-old Quanlinh Phillips from Santa Ana. Law enforcement officials did not release the identification of the female van driver, nor did they provide clarification on which person had been the driver of the Mini Cooper. Investigations are still underway as to the cause behind the wrong-way driving.

Perris, California Woman Killed in Blythe Truck Accident

February 24, 2017 | by Robert Walch

A young woman from Perris, California who was injured in a truck accident on the I10 Freeway in Blythe on Monday, later died on Saturday, February 18, 2017. The Riverside County Coroner’s Office stated that Barbara Emard, just 28 years of age, died Saturday at 1:22 p.m. at the Desert Regional Medical Center in Riverside County. According to the Patch.com, last Monday evening Ms. Emard had pulled her 1998 Ford Expedition vehicle onto the shoulder of the eastbound I10 Freeway at about 11 p.m.

Ms. Emard allegedly was beginning to accelerate back into the traffic lanes of the I10 freeway when apparently the front tire of a nearby 2006 Freightliner semi truck blew-out. As a result, the truck apparently lost control, veered to its right and struck the Ford expedition.

Motorcyclist Killed in California Accident

February 20, 2017 | by Robert Walch

A motorcycle accident in Wonder Valley, California on February 9, 2017, has been identified as Nikos Lukaris. According to Z1077fm, Lukaris, a 43 year old man from Twentynine Palms, California, was riding his dirtbike without a helmet or lights on Amboy Road when he was struck and killed by a Ford F-350 Super Duty pick-up truck. The driver of the pick-up truck was also a Twentynine Palms resident, Patrick Candelaria.

Apparently, the F-350 driver was attempting to pass another vehicle when he struck the motorcyclist head on. The California motorcycle accident wrongful death occurred shortly after 6:00pm. The California Highway Patrol is in charge of the investigation into the causes of the motorcycle accident.

Father and Daughter Killed in Palmdale Accident

February 14, 2017 | by Robert Walch

Sunday evening, an apparent street race led to a violent crash and two people killed. The Palmdale car accident allegedly occurred when two vehicles were racing and one of the vehicles lost control and struck a traffic pole.

According to TheAVTimes, the two people killed were in a 2014 Chevrolet Camaro that was headed southbound on 25th Street East in Palmdale. The father was driving the vehicle and the daughter was in the passenger seat. The father, Manuel Paniagua, was 54 years old. His daughter, Vanessa Paniagua, was only 17 years old.

According to witnesses at the scene, the two vehicles were speeding and probably racing. The other vehicle possibly involved in the race drove away from the scene without stopping to render assistance to the occupants of the Chevy. The driver of that other vehicle faces possible criminal charges for being involved in a street race and for leaving the scene.

San Bernardino Wrongful Death Victim Identified

February 12, 2017 | by Robert Walch

On Saturday, February 11, 2017, Cesar Manuel Floriano Ortiz of Highland was killed in a single car crash that allegedly occurred at about 12:45 am, when he was riding as a passenger in the vehicle. Apparently, Brien Jesus Reyna of San Bernardino was driving the car when the driver lost control and struck a light pole on H Street in San Bernardino, California.

Cesar Manuel Floriano Ortiz of Highland was only 22 years of age.

Brien Jesus Reyna of San Bernardino was only 18 years of age.

Reportedly both the driver and passenger were killed in this tragic San Bernardino car accident.

Allegedly the men were driving eastbound on West Ninth Street at about 12:45 am early on Saturday morning on the 215 Freeway overpass when the driver lost control and struck the light pole located on H Street in San Bernardino.