Drunk or Drugged Drivers
Man killed by drunk driver in Roland Heights
A 28-year-old man was struck and killed by a suspected drunk driver as he crossed a road in Rowland heights early Saturday morning.
The man has been identified by coroner’s officials as Earl T. Bourne II of Los Angeles.
According to witnesses, Bourne was crossing the street near John A. Rowland High School when he was struck by a blue Dodge Durango sports utility vehicle.
Students were arriving back at the school just after midnight on Saturday from a field trip to Disneyland when the crash happened.
No students were injured.
The suspected female driver was pulled over near the scene and arrested on charges of driving while intoxicated.
Cause of the Rowland Heights Crash
While this devastating Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles County wrongful death 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.
Alcohol impaired driving accidents and wrongful death liability
California Pedestrian Law
“Under California Vehicle Code Section 21950 (a) The driver of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within any marked crosswalk or within any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection, except as otherwise provided in this chapter.
(b) This section does not relieve a pedestrian from the duty of using due care for his or her safety. No pedestrian may suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle that is so close as to constitute an immediate hazard. No pedestrian may unnecessarily stop or delay traffic while in a marked or unmarked crosswalk.
(c) The driver of a vehicle approaching a pedestrian within any marked or unmarked crosswalk shall exercise all due care and shall reduce the speed of the vehicle or take any other action relating to the operation of the vehicle as necessary to safeguard the safety of the pedestrian.
(d) Subdivision (b) does not relieve a driver of a vehicle from the duty of exercising due care for the safety of any pedestrian within any marked crosswalk or within any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection.”
Pedestrian Accident Statistics
Source: California Highway Patrol Statewide Integrated Traffic Report
Pedestrians need to be especially cautious on our roadways because they are more vulnerable to injury or death. There were two pedestrians killed and two injured in car accidents in Twenty-nine Palms in 2009, according to the California Highway Patrol Statewide Integrated Traffic Report. In San Bernardino County 39 pedestrians died and 440 were injured in 2009.
In California, there were 598 pedestrians killed and 12,418 injured in 2009, according to the CHP traffic report.
National data compiled by the National Highway Transportation and Safety Authority shows that pedestrian injuries and fatalities in the United States were up 4.9% in 2010 to 4,280 deaths and injuries were up 19% in 2010 to 70,000 people injured.
Fatal crash in Menifee
Phyllis Fleming, an 86-year-old woman living in the Sun City area of Menifee, died at 12:35 p.m. in the intersection of McCall Boulevard and Encanto Drive when the Saturn sedan she was riding in was sideswiped by a Chevrolet Tahoe.
She died on the scene, and the person driving the sedan was rushed to a hospital with severe head lacerations, according to sheriff’s Sgt. Sergio Rodriguez.
Melissa Dean-Baumann, 37, of Fallbrook, the driver of the Tahoe, was arrested on suspicion of driving drunk, manslaughter and felony child endangerment. Her 3-year-old child, who was also in the Tahoe, escaped injury.
She is being held at Robert Presley Detention Center in lieu of $75,000 bail, according to jail records.
The crash happened when the driver of the Saturn was driving east on McCall Boulevard and turned left onto Encanto Drive on a protected green light. Dean-Baumann allegedly ran the red light and smashed into the passenger side of the sedan.
Cause of the Riverside County Crash
If news accounts of this incident are accurate, the 37 year old driver is likely responsible for the incident. While this devastating Riverside County accident remains under investigation, the family members of the accident victim who was fataly injured would be well-advised to speak with an understanding and knowledgeable Riverside County wrongful death 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 wrongful death claim.action also contributed to the crash.
Alcohol impaired driving accidents and wrongful death liability
The Los Angeles wrongful death 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 grief and sorrow associated with the loss of a loved one. The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler carefully selects its wrongful death cases so that we may give you (the client) the substantial personal attention necessary to obtain a successful result for your wrongful death case.
The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler is prepared to front all costs required for a thorough investigation and expert witnesses to prepare for trial of your case. As in all wrongful death 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.
San Jose families mourn Highway 152 crash deaths resulting in DUI arrest
Relatives are preparing to lay two San Jose women to rest after authorities say they were killed in a car crash near Los Banos last week at the hands of a San Jose man driving against traffic while on drugs.
Alicia Carranza, 40, and 30-year-old Sara Castro Chiti were passengers in a Ford F-150 pickup on eastbound Highway 152 approaching Interstate 5 in the early-morning hours of Oct. 9 when the truck was hit head-on by a Ford Explorer going the wrong way, according to the California Highway Patrol and Merced County Sheriff’s Office.
Chiti was pronounced dead at the scene. Carranza was airlifted to a Modesto hospital, where she died. Another passenger in the pickup, 23-year-old San Jose resident Maria Can, was hospitalized with major injuries. The pickup driver, 23-year-old Victor Manual Herrera of San Jose, suffered minor injuries.
The driver of the wrong-way Ford Explorer, 68-year-old San Jose resident Ali Farsad, suffered minor injuries and was soon arrested on suspicion of multiple counts of vehicular manslaughter and driving under the influence of illegal drugs. He is being held in Merced County Jail on $304,404 bail. It was not immediately clear what drugs Farsad was allegedly using.
Friends and relatives said the four people in the F-150 were headed to Los Angeles for janitorial jobs there when the crash occurred.
Chiti emigrated from the small Guatemalan town of Totonicapán seven years ago, and other than brother Govany Castro and sister-in-law, her family still lives there. Castro remembered his sister, who once cleaned houses in SanJose before getting her current job in Southern California, as a social person who doted over his 2-year-old son.
“She was friendly, outgoing and had a lot of friends,” Castro said. “And she totally loved my son.”
Carranza was a friend and co-worker of Chiti; her family could not immediately be reached. Can is Govany Castro’s sister-in-law.
A funeral Mass for the two women is tentatively planned for Thursday morning at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church on San Antonio and Jackson streets in San Jose.
Cause of the Merced County Crash
If news accounts of this incident are accurate, the 68 year old driver is likely responsible for the incident. While this devastating Merced County accident on October 9 remains under investigation, the family members of those accident victims who were fatally injured would be well-advised to speak with an understanding and knowledgeable California wrongful death lawyer. An attorney such as Gary A. Kessler who has successfully handled wrongful death 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 wrongful death claim.
Alcohol impaired driving accidents and wrongful death liability
The California wrongful death 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 grief and sorrow associated with the loss of a loved one. The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler carefully selects its wrongful death cases so that we may give you (the client) the substantial personal attention necessary to obtain a successful result for your wrongful death case.
The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler is prepared to front all costs required for a thorough investigation and expert witnesses to prepare for trial of your case. As in all wrongful death 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.
CHP Reports Alcohol played role in fatal Willow Creek bus crash
An unidentified 19-year-old woman was killed and seven other people were injured when a bus drove off a steep embankment on State Route 96 late Friday night, according to a California Highway Patrol press release issued Saturday.
Around 9:50 p.m. a 1993 GMC former school bus driven by Lorenzo Jackson, 42, of Washington state, drove off the right of the highway for unknown reasons approximately four miles north of State Route 299, according to the release. The bus rolled a short distance down a steep embankment, and came to rest against some trees.
Jackson broke his leg exiting the bus, according to the release. Two other passengers exited the bus and remained nearby while two passengers walked up to State Route 96. Three people remained in the bus, including a woman who was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.
Deputy Coroner Roy Horton said the woman’s identity is currently unknown, and that the passengers on the bus did not know very much about each other.
During investigation of the crash, it was determined that both Jackson and 35-year-old Joseph Forcier of Florida had driven the bus under suspicion of alcohol intoxication prior to and during the collision, according to the release.
Both men were arrested and remain at medical facilities to be treated for their injuries. Forcier received major head trauma and was transported to Mad River Community Hospital, according to the release.
Five other accident victims were transported to St. Joseph and Mad River Hospitals. The deceased victim’s name has not been released.
Cause of the Humboldt County Crash
As passengers, the deceased and the injured likely could have done nothing to prevent this fatal roll over collision that ultimately took her life and seriously injured several others. The California Highway Patrol will surely look at the speed of the vehicle, witness reports, and other factors to determine what occurred and who was responsible. roll over collisions such as this one can have countless causes, including unsafe passing maneuvers, swerving to avoid an object in the road, falling asleep at the wheel, driving under the influence, or driver distraction. No other vehicles were involved and alcohol is suspected to be a factor.
According to the California Highway Patrol the crash was “due to the Bus driver’s state of intoxication, the driver failed to maintain effective control of the vehicle, which ran off the left side of the roadway”.
Bus Accidents and Wrongful Death Liability
Demand accountability from those responsible for the bus accidents. A bus driver is a “common carrier” who owes you the “highest duty of care!” Many times the insurance companies for the bus companies (i.e., many times they are “self insured”) will play “hardball” if you try to settle the case yourself or you have employed a lawyer who does not have the litigation experience to handle such a complex bus case. We at the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler have twenty years of litigation experience and know how to handle the insurance companies to your advantage. We are prepared to front all costs required for the necessary investigation and expert witnesses needed to prepare your case for trial as well as file all government claims. Unfortunately, the reality is that most bus accident victims usually sustain serious/catastrophic injuries which many times results in death. Over the past twenty years attorney Gary A Kessler has a proven successful track record demanding accountability from the responsible parties and obtaining outstanding results for his clients.
The laws regarding bus accident cases are complex and include many facets of the law. It is vital to surviving family members to seek the advice of an experienced bus accident lawyer such as Gary A Kessler at the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler to protect your rights and those of your loved ones.
The California bus accident attorney Gary A Kessler and the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler are compassionate and fully understand that you are attempting to cope with serious injuries associated with a bus accident. Such bus accidents can lead to catastrophic injuries or even death. The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler carefully selects its wrongful death and bus accident cases so that we may give you (the client) the substantial personal attention necessary to obtain a successful result for your bus accident 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 the trial of your case. As in all bus accident 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 we can preserve the evidence and demand compensation and accountability from the responsible party.
If you have been seriously injured or a family member sustained fatal injuries involving a bus, you need to contact the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler or another experienced law firm immediately to protect your legal rights and preserve the evidence. Claims for damages against a public entity or governmental entity are complex and they have “strict time limitations”. So do not delay and contact the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler today!
Fatal Pedestrian Accident in San Bernardino
A 30-year-old Crestline man was the victim of this weekend’s fatal pedestrian accident near the base of a mountain highway in San Bernardino, coroner’s officials say.
Carl Evans died at the scene of the 3:53 a.m. crash Sunday, Sept. 23, along Highway 18 below the lower Waterman Canyon turnoff.
Evans was struck by 45-year-old Margaret Stegenga of Crestline, who had been drinking, said police Lt. Paul Williams.
Stegenga has not been arrested because the degree of her alcohol impairment, if any, has not been determined, Williams said.
However, investigators have determined that her vehicle drifted out of the traffic lanes and hit Evans who was walking beside the roadway, he said.
Cause of the San Bernardino County Crash
If news accounts of this incident are accurate, the 45 year old driver is likely responsible for the incident. While this devastating San Bernardino County accident on September 23 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 San Bernardino County wrongful death 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 wrongful death claim.
Alcohol impaired driving accidents and wrongful death liability
The California wrongful death 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 grief and sorrow associated with the loss of a loved one. The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler carefully selects its wrongful death cases so that we may give you (the client) the substantial personal attention necessary to obtain a successful result for your wrongful death case.
The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler is prepared to front all costs required for a thorough investigation and expert witnesses to prepare for trial of your case. As in all wrongful death 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
Third person in Thursday head-on collision dies
A third person has died from an early-morning head-on collision Thursday on South Watt Avenue in Sacramento County.
A Sacramento man, Raman Deep Gill, 26, who was on probation for a previous “wet reckless” conviction, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated.
A man and a woman were killed when Gill’s car struck theirs in the 1 a.m. crash near Tokay Lane, according to reports. Another passenger in that car died later, CHP officials said. The identities of the victims have not been released pending notification of family members.
Gill suffered minor injuries.
Cause of the Sacramento County Crash
If news accounts of this incident are accurate, the 26 year old driver is likely responsible for the incident. While this devastating Sacramento County accident on August 30 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 Sacramento County wrongful death 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 wrongful death claim.
Alcohol impaired driving accidents and wrongful death liability
The California wrongful death 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 grief and sorrow associated with the loss of a loved one. The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler carefully selects its wrongful death cases so that we may give you (the client) the substantial personal attention necessary to obtain a successful result for your wrongful death case.
The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler is prepared to front all costs required for a thorough investigation and expert witnesses to prepare for trial of your case. As in all wrongful death 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
Highway 154 Closed For Several Hours After Fatal Accident
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif- A portion of Highway 154 was shut down after a fatal accident early Wednesday morning. According to California Highway Patrol, the driver of a Ford F-250 was speeding down Highway 152 when he flipped his truck.
The driver and front seat passenger were not wearing their seat belts and were ejected from the vehicle, said CHP. The front seat passenger died at the scene. The driver, who sustained major injuries, was transported to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital. The backseat passenger, who was wearing a seat belt, walked away with minor cuts and scratches, CHP reports.
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s department, Santa Barbara County Fire and American Medical Response responded to assist with the collision. 154 was closed for several hours and traffic was diverted at Old San Marcos Road and at Cathedral Oaks Road.
The names of the victims of the collision will not be released until proper notification to their families has been made.
Cause of the Santa Barbara County Crash
As a passenger, the deceased likely could have done nothing to prevent this fatal roll over collision that ultimately took their life. The California Highway Patrol will surely look at the speed of the vehicle, witness reports, and other factors to determine what occurred and who was responsible. roll over collisions such as this one can have countless causes, including unsafe passing maneuvers, swerving to avoid an object in the road, falling asleep at the wheel, driving under the influence, or driver distraction. No other vehicles were involved and alcohol is suspected to be a factor.
According to the California Highway Patrol the crash was “due to the driver’s state of intoxication, the driver failed to maintain effective control of the vehicle, which ran off the left side of the roadway”.
Car Accident Wrongful Death Liability
The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler is a prominent and highly respected law firm in California and the United States. Gary A Kessler has been serving the people as an experienced wrongful death attorney for over twenty years dedicated and committed to obtaining the best results for his clients in each and every case. Through experience and education, our firm is able to expertly evaluate complex medical injuries and pursue wrongful death claims.
The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler has a sustaining record of outstanding results for their client’s wrongful death cases throughout California, Nevada, Arizona, Florida, Oregon and Washington. Our firm specializes in difficult automobile vs. tractor-trailer rig(s), collision cases, uninsured motorists cases, rollover accident cases, bus and train collision litigation, defective product liability litigation, boating collision death cases, boating capsizing and drowning cases, backyard pool drownings, jacuzzi spa drownings, association and community pool drownings, accidental shootings, tractor-trailer and commercial vehicle fatality, fuel tank fire cases and wrongful death cases.
The term “wrongful death” is defined as the death of an individual as a result of the negligence, carelessness, intentional act of another individual, corporation, company or entity. Filing a proper wrongful death claim is extremely difficult and complex for families because they are not only dealing with their grief over the death of a beloved family member, but also complex issues of compensation as well. Wrongful death claims are usually sought after by relatives, siblings, or members of the decedent’s estate who have lost a considerable amount of money as well as loss of support and grief due to the wrongful death of the decedent.
In most states, if the death of a relative or spouse was caused by the wrongful act of another, surviving family members can file a wrongful death lawsuit against the negligent party or parties. In order to file a wrongful death claim, you must be able to prove that you will experience severe future emotional and financial hardship because of the loss of the death of a relative, family member or spouse.
Two San Gabriel residents killed in DUI crash
ALHAMBRA – Two San Gabriel residents were killed and two others injured after the car they were in fell at least 60 feet off a freeway overpass and landed on the transition road between the westbound I-10 and the southbound 710 Freeway.
Manolo Magat, 23, and Joseph Almario, 21, both of San Gabriel were pronounced dead at the scene. The driver, Christine Meng, 22, and passenger Jason Lieu, 22, also of San Gabriel, sustained injuries and were transported to Los Angeles USC Medical Center.
Meng was speeding and driving under the influence of alcohol, CHP officials said, which caused her to lose control of the RAV4 on a curve and crash through the guard wall of the bus way/HOV lane at 1:05 a.m.
She has been charged with felony DUI, California Highway Patrol spokeswoman Doris Peniche said.
Peniche said the CHP is still investigating the incident and could also charge Meng with manslaughter or murder.
The westbound I-10 to the southbound 710 transition road as well as the bus way/HOV lane from Alameda Street to the eastbound I-10 was closed for approximately three hours after the crash.
Cause of the Alhambra Crash
If news accounts of this incident are accurate, the 22 year old driver is likely responsible for the incident. While this devastating Los Angeles County accident on July 31 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 Los Angeles County wrongful death 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 wrongful death claim.
Alcohol impaired driving accidents and wrongful death liability
The California wrongful death 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 grief and sorrow associated with the loss of a loved one. The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler carefully selects its wrongful death cases so that we may give you (the client) the substantial personal attention necessary to obtain a successful result for your wrongful death case.
The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler is prepared to front all costs required for a thorough investigation and expert witnesses to prepare for trial of your case. As in all wrongful death 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.
Child dies after Fresno crash; Central High coach faces DUI, manslaughter charges
Central High School’s boys varsity basketball coach faces a charge of vehicular manslaughter after a child struck in a northwest Fresno crash Wednesday night died, police say.
The 7-year-old child was one of three family members riding bicycles in a crosswalk across Shepherd Avenue when they were struck by a car driven by Loren LeBeau, 42, police said.
Police said LeBeau left the accident scene but later returned and identified himself. He was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, Lt. Mike Doyle said.
Doyle said a father and his 2-year-old daughter were on one bicycle and the 7-year-old boy on another when they were hit as they rode the Fresno-Clovis Rail Trail across Shepherd Avenue just after 9 p.m.
The boy, identified by the Fresno County coroner as Donovan Maldonado, was dragged a couple hundred yards down westbound Shepherd Avenue, Doyle said.
The boy was taken either to Community Regional or Children’s Hospital Central California and was initially listed in very critical condition.
The father and daughter were taken to Community Regional Medical Center with serious injuries. Doyle said. They were not identified.
Doyle said the family was in a group that included four others — including the children’s mother — who were walking the trail. A street light at that crossing was not working Wednesday night.
Police were trying to determine Wednesday night how fast the driver was going, and whether his headlights were on at the time of the crash.
Although Doyle could not confirm LeBeau was Central High’s coach, a player contacted Wednesday night who saw television footage of the driver confirmed he was the school’s coach.
LeBeau has been Central High’s varsity basketball coach for 10 seasons, including the past five years.
In between his two stints as Central’s coach, LeBeau served as an assistant coach at Pepperdine and Fresno City.
Cause of the Fresno Crash
While this devastating Fresno County accident on July 25 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 Fresno County personal injury lawyer. An attorney such as Gary A. Kessler who has successfully handled wrongful death 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 wrongful death claim.
Alcohol Impaired Driving Accidents and Wrongful Death Liability
The California wrongful death 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 grief and sorrow associated with the loss of a loved one. The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler carefully selects its wrongful death cases so that we may give you (the client) the substantial personal attention necessary to obtain a successful result for your wrongful death case.
The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler is prepared to front all costs required for a thorough investigation and expert witnesses to prepare for trial of your case. As in all wrongful death 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.
Santa Paula police officer killed in DUI crash
A Santa Paula police officer was killed and another person was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence after a crash Sunday night near Santa Paula, authorities said.
Officers responded to the single-vehicle collision about 9:15 p.m. on eastbound South Mountain Lookout Road near Coyote Canyon Road, the California Highway Patrol reported.
Authorities say the driver of the car, Christopher Blankenship, lost control of the car when approaching a curve on the winding road. The vehicle spun and rolled over at about 9:15 p.m
The passenger, who was partially ejected and pinned under the jeep, was pronounced dead at the scene, officials said.
The Ventura County Medical Examiner’s office identified the passenger as Kimberley Hemminger, 33, of Oxnard. Hemminger had been a Santa Paula police officer since July 2008.
Two other people in the jeep, both female, sustained minor injuries, authorities said. One suffered a minor cut on her knee and the other had bruises and neck pain, the CHP reported.
The driver, whose name was not released this morning, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol and vehicular manslaughter, officials said.
None of the people in the jeep were wearing seat belts, the CHP reported.
Cause of the Santa Paula Crash
If news accounts of this incident are accurate, the 44 year old driver is likely responsible for the incident. While this devastating Ventura County accident on July 22 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 Ventura County wrongful death 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 wrongful death claim.
Alcohol impaired driving accidents and wrongful death liability
The California wrongful death 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 grief and sorrow associated with the loss of a loved one. The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler carefully selects its wrongful death cases so that we may give you (the client) the substantial personal attention necessary to obtain a successful result for your wrongful death case.
The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler is prepared to front all costs required for a thorough investigation and expert witnesses to prepare for trial of your case. As in all wrongful death 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.
