4 dead in wrong-way collision on Highway 99 in Livingston
LIVINGSTON — Four people were killed and a young girl suffered major injuries after a wrong-way driver caused a head-on collision on Highway 99 on Sunday afternoon.
A 40-year-old Modesto man entered the southbound offramp of Sultana Drive heading north at speeds of about 80 mph about 5:40 p.m., according to California Highway Patrol officer Ed Macias.
The driver continued north in the southbound fast lane in a GMC Sonoma and immediately collided head-on with a GMC Sierra with six Los Angeles-area residents traveling home at about 70 mph, Macias said.
Both vehicles overturned and landed on their tops, the Sierra in the center median and the Sonoma in the fast lane.
The Modesto man, who was driving alone, was taken by ambulance to Doctors Medical Center in Modesto, where he died, according to the CHP. His identity has not been released pending positive identification and notification of family.
Two women in the Sierra, ages 34 and 65, were pronounced dead at the scene. A 73-year-old man was taken to Emanuel Medical Center in Turlock, where he, too, died. Their identities have not been released. The Sierra occupants are from Panorama City.
The driver of the Sierra, 37-year-old Guillermo Girabaldi, was taken to Memorial Medical Center in Modesto with minor injuries.
Six-year-old Destiny Morales was taken by helicopter to the University of California Medical Center in Sacramento with major injuries, but she was listed in good condition Monday. Her sister, 5-year-old Kimberly Morales, was taken to Memorial Medical Center with minor injuries.
The CHP is awaiting toxicology results to determine whether alcohol or drugs played a role.
All lanes of the highway were shut down for about an hour after the collision, Macias said.
Cause of the Merced County Crash
While this devastating Merced County accident remains under investigation, the family members of those accident victims who were seriously injured would be well-advised to speak with an understanding and knowledgeable personal injury lawyer. An attorney such as Gary A. Kessler who has successfully handled serious injury accidents can advise the victim’s family of their legal rights to hold the driver accountable and best course of action should they wish to pursue a personal injury claim.
Liability for Serious Injuries in Car Accidents
Seeking immediate counsel from an experienced California automobile accident attorney is well-advised following a car crash. In severe accidents such as this one the victims would benefit from speaking to an experienced personal injury lawyer regarding the protection of their legal rights and the compensation they are entitled to. And while it is uncertain who is liable for this incident, an attorney can also hire a highly skilled independent investigator to reconstruct the scene of the accident and determine who is responsible.
Attorney Gary A Kessler and the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler are compassionate and fully understand that you are attempting to cope with extreme serious injuries associated with a catastrophic injury. The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler carefully selects its catastrophic injury cases so that we may give you (the client) the substantial personal attention necessary to obtain a successful result for your catastrophic injury case.
The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler is prepared to front all costs required for a thorough investigation and top expert witnesses to prepare for trial of your case. As in all catastrophic injury and serious personal injury cases, we advance all legal costs to prepare and present our client’s claim, and receive for our services only a percentage of what we recover for our attorney fees on their behalf. Upon settlement our costs shall be reimbursed to us from the gross recovery. If there is no recovery, no attorneys fees or costs are owed to our firm. Contact the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler today so that we can preserve the evidence and demand compensation and accountability from the responsible parties who caused you or your family member catastrophic injuries!
If you or a family member sustained catastrophic injuries you need to contact the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler, an experienced law firm, immediately to protect your legal rights and preserve the evidence. The laws and time limitations can be complex so protect your legal rights by contacting the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler today.
