Wrongful Death

Woman Dies after Hit by Car in Redondo Beach

July 6, 2011 | by Robert Walch

An 89 year old Redondo Beach woman, Melania Nuhbegovic, was hit by a car in Redondo Beach on Monday. Ms. Nuhbegovic later died of her injuries at Harbor UCLA medical center.

According to the Daily Breeze, the woman was crossing in a crosswalk when she was hit by a pickup truck in Redondo Beach. According to investigators, the driver of the pickup truck stopped at the stop sign, but then drove and hit Ms. Nuhbegovic. He did not flee the scene and stopped to render care to the victim.

The driver was not cited and investigators said it did not appear that the driver was under the influence at the time of the Redondo Beach wrongful death accident.

Two Children Killed in Riverside Car Accident

July 5, 2011 | by Robert Walch

Two young children, Fernando Benitez and Genesis Fuentes, aged 6 and 14 respectively, died this morning when the Mitsubishi Montero they were in rolled over in a tragic Riverside car accident. According to the California Highway Patrol, the Riverside freeway accident happened when a tire blew out and the driver of the vehicle, Tomasa Fuentes, lost control of the car.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the two children, who died at the scene, were not wearing seatbelts at the time of the car accident in Riverside on the 60 Freeway in Glen Avon. The other passengers in the vehicle, who apparently were wearing seatbelts, suffered injuries ranging from minor to severe.

The California Highway Patrol has not decided yet whether to pursue criminal charges for the Riverside wrongful death due to the lack of seatbelts.

Murder Conviction From Costa Mesa Car Accident Wrongful Death

June 30, 2011 | by Robert Walch

Gustavo Adrian Vega, a 23 year old man from Costa Mesa, California, was convicted of murder today for a Costa Mesa car accident he allegedly caused when he was driving under the influence.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Mr. Vega had a prior DUI conviction and in this car accident in Orange County, he ran a red light and then fled the scene on foot. Mr. Vega was later caught by Costa Mesa police and he had a blood alcohol level of .17%, which is over twice the legal limit in California.

Mr. Vega will face a maximum prison sentence from 19 years and eight months up to life in prison for the murder as well as felony hit and run conviction.

New Details Emerge in Nevada Amtrak Train Crash

June 29, 2011 | by Robert Walch

It has emerged that the truck driver who allegedly caused the Nevada Amtrak train crash has been cited multiple times in various states. These citations were for violations including a 2007 truck accident wherein he rear ended a Toyota on the freeway, causing injuries to a family, and tickets for speeding and driving with a cell phone in his hand.

There was also an Amtrak train crash lawsuit filed this week by an Amtrak train attendant, against Lawrence Valli, the truck driver, and John Davis Trucking, the presumed owner of the vehicle and the company that employed Valli.

The personal injury attorney for the train attendant claims that Valli was negligent and careless in failing to follow the road signs, causing this truck-train crash and the resultant injuries and damages to his client. The attorney also claims that after reviewing Valli’s record and the record of the trucking company, that Valli should not have been driving this truck at the time of the Amtrak train accident.

Nevada Truck Accident with Amtrak Train – Update

June 28, 2011 | by Robert Walch

Although previous reports said four people died in the Amtrak train accident with the big rig truck in Nevada, that number has been revised to six deaths, including the truck driver and the train conductor. The number of missing people, however, has been reduced from 28 to five.

The Amtrak train crash, which happened 70 miles east of Reno, Nevada, appears to have been caused by the either the truck driver or problems with the truck. The trucking company, John Davis Trucking Company Incorporated, based in Battle Mountain, Nevada, has been cited 17 times for having faulty equipment and has had two other crashes since 2009. Those cases involved a truck operating with bald tires and another truck with defective or missing springs.

San Dimas Freeway Accident Kills 3 Women

June 27, 2011 | by Robert Walch

Three women were killed this morning in a tragic freeway accident in San Dimas, California. According to the Los Angeles Times, the three women were inside a vehicle that collided with a big rig truck on the 57 freeway, at about 2:45 a.m. The vehicle was overturned as a result of the San Dimas truck accident and the women were pinned inside and died at the scene.

As a result of the San Dimas accident, all of the lanes on the southbound 57 freeway were closed, as well as the east and westbound transitions for the 210 freeway. After 7:00 a.m. this morning, all lanes were reopened to vehicle traffic.

The California Highway Patrol, which is investigating the deadly accident, has not yet determined the cause of the San Dimas wrongful death accident.

Amtrak Truck Accident in Nevada Kills 4, Injures Scores

June 25, 2011 | by Robert Walch

An Amtrak Train, headed to Emeryville, California from Chicago, Illinois, was struck last night by a semitrailer truck near Reno, Nevada in a tragic truck versus train accident. According to the Los Angeles Times, the Amtrak train accident in Nevada killed four people, including the driver of the truck, and over 20 people had to be taken to hospitals.

According to witnesses, the driver of the truck apparently tried to stop before colliding with the side of the train, but was unable to do so in time. Witnesses also reported that the warning gates and lights at the crossing were working at the time of the Nevada Amtrak train accident.

It is unknown at this time why the big rig truck driver was unable to stop before colliding with the Amtrak train, but possible reasons could be malfunctioning brakes, inattentive driving, lack of visibility, or speeds that were just unsafe for conditions.

Possible Murder Charges in Reseda Motorcycle Accident Wrongful Death

June 15, 2011 | by Robert Walch

A car versus motorcycle accident in Reseda has resulted in the arrest and possible murder charges for Roberto Casillas, after his car hit a motorcycle on Monday. The victim of the Reseda car accident, Steve Josue Campos, was struck when Casillas allegedly made a left turn in front of Campos’ motorcycle.

Campos was transported to a hospital from the scene of the Reseda motorcycle accident, where he was later pronounced dead. The Reseda accident occurred near the intersection of Vanowen and Etiwanda, in Reseda, California.

It is unclear from the Los Angeles Times report why Casillas, who was taken to Van Nuys jail, is being held on suspicion of murder. Possible causes could include driving while under the influence or reckless driving.

Metrolink Train Kills Pedestrian in Palmdale Wrongful Death Accident

June 14, 2011 | by Robert Walch

This morning, a Metrolink train accident in Palmdale caused the possible wrongful death of a pedestrian. The Palmdale train accident occurred shortly after 11:00 am. The Metrolink train was en route from Union Station to Lancaster, California and the train accident happened near East Avenue O-8.

The victim of the train accident in Palmdale has not been identified. Fortunately, according to the Los Angeles Times, there were no reported injuries to any of the 114 passengers on the train at the time of the California train accident.

18 Years in Prison for Long Beach Drag Race Wrongful Death Accident

June 4, 2011 | by Robert Walch

Denis Alberto Reyes has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for causing a Long Beach Wrongful Death Accident that killed four people. Reyes, who was driving a stolen car, was apparently involved in a drag race with a Mustang, when the two vehicles collided.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the Long Beach accident caused the ejection from the vehicle of the driver of the Mustang and two passengers. All three died from the Long Beach car accident, as well as another passenger who died later at a hospital.

Reyes, who was 17 at the time, and fled the scene of the car accident in Long Beach, was later arrested. He pled no contest to four counts of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, one count of car theft and hit and run causing death.