Public Transportation News
Muni driver charged with vehicular manslaughter
The Muni bus driver who struck and killed a 23-year-old woman in a Castro District crosswalk last summer has been charged with misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter.
He was arrested Saturday and released on $10,000 bail. His arraignment has been set for Friday.
The operator, identified by authorities as Wallace Loggins, was driving his empty bus to a new a new assignment across town on the afternoon of Aug. 19 when he ran over Emily Dunn.
Dunn had almost reached the curb when the 40-foot bus struck her. Loggins was making a left turn from 18th Street onto Hartford Street, a narrow street with no regular Muni service in a largely residential area.
On-board video surveillance tape showed the driver apparently looking in his side-view mirror and not at what was going on in front of him when Dunn was run over, investigators found. There was no indication that the driver was under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
In the previous five years, the annual number of Muni-related fatalities was four or five, with the exception of 2009 when there was one.
The district attorney determined that Loggins, 36, who began driving for Muni last January, was negligent for not seeing Dunn crossing the street.
Bus Accidents and Wrongful Death Liability
If you have been injured on a Bus, MTA (bus), Caltrans, BART (bus) or Muni Bus system or runover by a bus, MTA (bus), Caltrans, BART (bus) or Muni Bus, you have a very limited time to pursue legal action. By representing wrongful death and seriously injured accident victims and their families injured on or due to being run over or into by public transportation, we have a wealth of experience and knowledge to obtain the outstanding results you deserve for your damages. The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler has the proven track record.
Accidents involving buses are often severe and many times fatal (death). Whether the bus collision involves a car, truck or pedestrian the damage sustained by the victim(s) is likely to result in death. Did you know that a “bus driver” owes you the passenger the highest level of care, because he is a “common carrier” who is directly responsible for your safety.
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
Free AAA Tipsy Tow: Christmas Eve 2011
The American Automobile Association (AAA) is again running their holiday Free Tipsy Tow Home service for Christmas Eve (December 24 – 25, 2011) for anyone in Northern California, Nevada, and Utah. If you’re drinking and don’t think you should drive, give them a call. You don’t have to be a AAA member to get a free tow.
Write the number down and keep it in your car’s glove box:
800-222-4357 (AAA-HELP)
Just tell the AAA operator, “I need a Tipsy Tow,” and a truck will be on its way.
You don’t have to be a AAA member to call (and neither does your tipsy friend), because he Tipsy Tow program is open to everyone. They offer a free five-mile tow home for drinking drivers and their vehicles, including potential passengers, party hosts, bartenders, and restaurant managers.
DEAL: AAA Tipsy Tow Program free tows home on certain holidays.
WHERE: Northern California, Nevada, and Utah (including the San Francisco Bay Area).
WHEN: AAA provides its Tipsy Tow service for the following holidays in 2011:
- Super Bowl: 6pm Sunday, February 6 – 6am Monday, February 7
- St. Patrick’s Day: 6pm Thursday, March 17 – 6am Friday, March 18
- Cinco de Mayo: 6pm Thursday, May 5 – 6 Friday, May 6
- Memorial Day: 6pm Monday, May 30 – 6am Tuesday, May 31
- Independence Day: 6pm Monday, July 4 – 6am Tuesday, July 5
- Labor Day: 6pm Monday, September 5 – 6 am Tuesday, September 6
- Halloween: 6pm Monday, October 31 – 6 am Tuesday, November 1
- Thanksgiving: 6pm Thursday, November 24 – 6am Friday, November 25
- Christmas Eve: 6pm Saturday, December 24 – 6am Sunday, December 25
- New Year’s Eve: 6pm Saturday, December 31st – 6am Sunday, January 1
Woman dies when tree lands on car
COSTA MESA – One person was killed when a tree slammed into a car Thursday afternoon, authorities said.
Police received initial reports of a vehicle crashing into a tree, but when officers arrived at the scene, it wasn’t immediately clear how the driver was injured, Costa Mesa police Lt. Mark Manley said.
“It may have been a tree just fell onto the car,” Manley said.
Rescuers responded to the intersection of Irvine Avenue and 17th Street about 2 p.m.
A 50-foot eucalyptus tree landed on top of the vehicle, which was occupied by one person.
A helicopter was initially called to transport a woman to a hospital, authorities said, but was called off when she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities have not identified the woman nor released her age.
Newport resident Pier Warmuth said she was driving a convertible with its windows down westbound on 17th when the tree fell. Warmuth said she didn’t hear or see any collisions and indicated that there wasn’t any wind in the area at the time.
“All of a sudden, there was a weird creaking noise, then everyone was looking around and suddenly there was the tree,” Warmuth said.
A man got out of another vehicle to try to help the woman, Warmuth said, but was unable to reach her.
“There was nothing you could do. The tree was enormous, and it was lying right on the driver’s side,” Warmuth said. “It just happened so quickly. It could have been any of us.”
Both directions of Irvine Boulevard were closed from 17th Street to Mariners Drive, Costa Mesa police Lt. Bryan Glass said, as investigators go over the scene and workers remove the tree and the car.
The laws regarding wrongful death cases are complex and include many facets of the law. It is vital to surviving family members to seek the advice of an experienced wrongful death 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 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 neccessary 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
Site of I-15 chain crash notorious for backups
A commuter bus slammed into backed-up traffic Wednesday morning in Temecula on a stretch of highway notorious for congestion and a high rate of accidents.
The five-vehicle, chain reaction crash on southbound Interstate 15 sent seven people to local hospitals, including the driver of the Riverside Transit Agency bus, whose right leg was almost completely severed, California Highway Patrol Officer Nathan Baer said.
About 7:50 a.m., the bus carrying five passengers rammed into the back of a white box truck that was stopped at the end of a line of cars waiting to exit the freeway at Winchester Road. The bus driver, whose injuries were potentially life-threatening, apparently didn’t notice that the vehicles in front of him were stopped, Baer said.
Throughout each day, traffic backs up onto the southbound freeway from the heavily used Winchester Road off-ramp, leaving drivers to idle precariously in the right-hand lane. A $200-million road project aimed at alleviating the congestion has been in the works for 12 years.
Temecula and the rest of southwest Riverside County have grown exponentially over the past 20 years, and traffic on its freeways and interchanges have, too. The Winchester Road interchange, a gateway to The Promenade mall and the rest of Temecula’s retail core, is one of the busiest.
The southbound freeway around Winchester Road had a rate of collisions more than 50 percent higher than the state average, according to a 2009 study done by Temecula and Caltrans in preparation for the project. The study looked at crashes from 2002 to 2004.
Most of the accidents occurred during weekdays in good driving conditions, and most were rear-end collisions, the study found.
Rush-hour mess
The bus that authorities said started the crash was traveling on RTA Route 208, an express commuter line heading from downtown Riverside to the mall. The route is operated for RTA by an outside contractor, Empire Transportation of Bellflower. The driver, whose identity was not released, is an employee of that company.
An Empire representative declined to comment on the crash, referring questions to RTA.
Passengers estimated the bus was going about 55 mph when it crashed, though CHP officers couldn’t immediately confirm that.
Baer said officers continue to investigate but there was no indication drugs or alcohol played a role. RTA officials said in a statement they were working with the CHP to review camera footage taken from the bus.
The impact from the bus forced the box truck into a Nissan pickup and off the side of the road. The pickup was sent forward into an SUV, which hit another SUV in front of it.
The driver of the box truck walked away from the crash without significant injuries, despite his truck ending up on its side.
The bus careened off the box truck, across four lanes of traffic into the concrete center divider. The front of the red-and-white bus was shorn off.
All five bus passengers were taken to local hospitals with minor to moderate injuries, Baer said. The driver of the pickup, which was totaled, was treated at a hospital with cuts to his face.
The crash and resulting cleanup reduced the freeway to two lanes for several hours, causing a massive traffic headache for morning commuters. Southbound traffic backed up for miles, as far north as Lake Elsinore on I-15 and into Menifee on Interstate 215, according to drivers and the CHP.
If you have been injured on a Bus, RTA (bus), Caltrans, BART (bus) or Muni Bus system or runover by a bus, RTA (bus), Caltrans, BART (bus) or Muni Bus, you have a very limited time to pursue legal action. By representing wrongful death and seriously injured accident victims and their families injured on or due to being run over or into by public transportation, we have a wealth of experience and knowledge to obtain the outstanding results you deserve for your damages. The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler has the proven track record.
Accidents involving buses are often severe and many times fatal (death). Whether the bus collision involves a car, truck or pedestrian the damage sustained by the victim(s) is likely to result in death. Did you know that a “bus driver” owes you the passenger the highest level of care, because he is a “common carrier” who is directly responsible for your safety.
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. Remember, cases against the governmental bus companies RTA (bus), Caltrans, BART (bus) or Muni Bus System have a very short time to file the proper government claim which must be filed first, way before the actual lawsuit is filed! We are prepared to front all costs required for the neccessary 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 neccessary 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!
Freeway worker injured, driver jailed
A drunken driver careened down a closed highway entrance ramp in Riverside late Wednesday, critically injuring a freeway construction worker and angering highway safety officials who have spent the past month warning motorists to be cautious in work zones.
“This has got to stop,” said Caltrans spokeswoman Terri Kasinga, noting this is the fourth freeway incident in less than three months to kill or critically injure a worker on a highway.
Barry Steele, 52, of Beaumont, was in critical condition Thursday following the 10:40 p.m. crash on the westbound side of Highway 91 at Van Buren Boulevard.
Brandi Holmes, 21, was arrested on suspicion of felony hit and run and DUI causing injuring, CHP spokeswoman Sylvia Vargas said. She and a passenger were treated for minor injuries. Holmes was taken to Robert Presley Detention Center. The passenger was not held. 
Steele was working on the ramp when Holmes, of Victorville, was driving northwest on Van Buren. Holmes drove into the left turn lane to the entrance ramp, which was blocked by cones, said Hector Davila, deputy Caltrans director for construction in the Inland area.
“The on-ramp was closed and was … under construction,” said CHP Sgt. M. Reddick.
Signs and some concrete barriers marked the closure, though the ramp was accessible as crews brought heavy equipment in and out of the construction area.
Kasinga said some members of the construction crew, most employees of Skanska U.S.A. Civil Construction, honked the horns on their trucks but Holmes never responded and continued down the ramp.
The Mazda glanced off a moving Caterpillar loader, hit a concrete K-rail and then struck Steele, Reddick said.
Witnesses told Caltrans officials Holmes then got out of the car and began walking away.
Workers at the scene corralled her until police arrived, Kasinga said.
“They said she was out of it,” Kasinga said of the workers.
Police believe Holmes tried to leave the scene, Vargas said.
Steele’s injuries come at a time when Caltrans is warning drivers statewide to pay more attention when traveling through work areas.
Three people have been killed in Southern California in the past three months while working on state highways. Stephen Palmer Sr. died after he was hit by a trolley in National City, near San Diego, on May 4. An errant vehicle struck and killed Jaime Obeso while he was working on Interstate 8 in Imperial County on June 7. Richard Gonzalez, 52, was killed crossing the freeway June 20 as he was cleaning litter along Interstate 15, near Highway 94 outside San Diego.
As a result of the deaths, Caltrans launched an aggressive public awareness campaign, pulled maintenance workers from their shifts to focus on safety issues, and urged drivers via changeable message signs on state freeways to slow down and look for workers.
Workers said they take preventative steps like arranging equipment to protect them from vehicles on the freeway, but are reliant on drivers to pay attention as well.
“It is a partnership,” Davila said. “We need drivers to know we’re out here, and stop distracted driving and drunken driving.”
Police and Caltrans officials have stressed that drivers should obey traffic laws, avoid talking on cellphones and text messaging and slow down when they see workers, tow truck drivers and emergency vehicles stopped on the road.
Officials are also highlighting the “move over” law requiring drivers, when applicable, to slow down and move one lane away from emergency and maintenance vehicles stopped on the highway.
Kasinga said Caltrans will keep reminding drivers to take care.
“We know it’s redundant,” she said. “We don’t care. We’ll do this every day if we have to.”
Steele, a well-known soccer coach in Beaumont whose son is the Beaumont High School boys’ coach in the city, is a 32-year highway worker, said his brother, Scott Steele.
Working on the freeways or around construction zones is a family tradition, Scott Steele said, noting he, his father and another brother also worked in the construction trade.
“Everyone knows that when you work out on the highway there is some danger,” Scott Steele said. “It is heavy equipment and cars moving fast around you sometimes … It is all done in a safe manner. But when you throw in the element of the public involved, and then you throw a drunk driver in it, it is just something that is dangerous.”
The collision reportedly broke Steele’s neck and one of his legs, among other injuries, officials said.
Construction sites can be very dangerous for workers, but construction companies and contractors are responsible for complying with guidelines and regulations in order to ensure a safe work environment for employees. However, employers may neglect hazards or fail to properly train employees which can lead to dangerous or fatal construction site accidents. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, construction site accidents resulting in fatalities account for 22 percent of all workplace fatalities each year.
The laws regarding pedestrian 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 pedestrian 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 pedestrian 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 extreme serious injuries associated with a pedestrian accident. Such accidents can lead to catastrophic injuries or even death. The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler carefully selects its wrongful death and pedestrian accident cases so that we may give you (the client) the substantial personal attention neccessary to obtain a successful result for your 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 pedestrian accidents 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 reponsible parties!
AAA Offering Free Towing To Drunk Drivers Over Holiday Weekend
LOS ANGELES (CBS) — For the 15th year in a row, the Automobile Club of Southern California will offer free towing during the Fourth of July weekend in an attempt to keep drunken drivers off the road, beginning Saturday.
The Tipsy Tow program will be available to intoxicated drivers beginning at 6 p.m. Saturday and continuing until 11:59 p.m. Monday in the 13 counties served by the Auto Club.
Motorists, bartenders, restaurant managers,party hosts or passengers of a drinking driver can call (800) 400-4AAA for a free tow to the driver’s residence of up to seven miles away.
Callers should tell operators they want a Tipsy Tow, and a tow truck under contract to the Auto Club will be dispatched.
The service does not include rides for passengers and is restricted to a one-way, one-time ride for the driver. For distances longer than seven miles, drivers will be expected to pay the normal rate charged by the tow truck operator.
A first-time drunken driving conviction can cost $12,176 or more in fines, penalties, restitution, legal fees and increased insurance costs, according to the Auto Club.
All 50 states in the US and Puerto Rico now apply two statutory offenses to driving under the influence of alcohol. The first (and original) offense is known either as driving under the influence (DUI), driving while intoxicated/impaired (DWI), or operating [a motor vehicle] while intoxicated/impaired (OWI). This is based upon a police officer’s observations (driving behavior, slurred speech, the results of a roadside sobriety test, etc.)
The second offense is called “illegal per se”, which is driving with a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of 0.08 g/dL or higher. Since 2002 it has been illegal in all 50 states to drive with a BAC that is 0.08 or higher. Drivers are considered to be alcohol-impaired when their BAC is .08 or higher.
Alcohol-related deaths in the US since 1982:
|
Total fatalities
|
Alcohol-related
fatalities |
||
|
Year
|
Number
|
Number
|
Percent
|
|
1982
|
43,945
|
26,173
|
60
|
|
1983
|
42,589
|
24,635
|
58
|
|
1984
|
44,257
|
24,762
|
56
|
|
1985
|
43,825
|
23,167
|
53
|
|
1986
|
46,087
|
25,017
|
54
|
|
1987
|
46,390
|
24,094
|
52
|
|
1988
|
47,087
|
23,833
|
51
|
|
1989
|
45,582
|
22,424
|
49
|
|
1990
|
44,599
|
22,587
|
51
|
|
1991
|
41,508
|
20,159
|
49
|
|
1992
|
39,250
|
18,290
|
47
|
|
1993
|
40,150
|
17,908
|
45
|
|
1994
|
40,716
|
17,308
|
43
|
|
1995
|
41,817
|
17,732
|
42
|
|
1996
|
42,065
|
17,749
|
42
|
|
1997
|
42,013
|
16,711
|
40
|
|
1998
|
41,501
|
16,673
|
40
|
|
1999
|
41,717
|
16,572
|
40
|
|
41,945
|
17,380
|
41
|
|
|
42,196
|
17,400
|
41
|
|
|
43,005
|
17,524
|
41
|
|
|
42,643
|
17,013
|
40
|
|
|
42,518
|
16,919
|
39
|
|
|
43,443
|
16,885
|
39
|
|
|
42,532
|
15,829
|
37
|
|
|
41,059
|
15,387
|
37
|
|
|
2008
|
37,261
|
13,846
|
37
|
Drinking and driving fatalities by state in 2008 (ranked by highest number of alcohol-related* deaths):
|
State
|
Total Fatalities
|
Alcohol-Related |
|
|
Number
|
Percent
|
||
| Texas | 3,382 | 1,463 | 43 |
| California | 3,434 | 1,198 | 35 |
| Florida | 2,978 | 1,041 | 35 |
| Pennsylvania | 1,468 | 578 | 39 |
| North Carolina | 1,433 | 500 | 35 |
| Georgia | 1,493 | 489 | 33 |
| South Carolina | 920 | 463 | 50 |
| Illinois | 1,043 | 434 | 42 |
| Ohio | 1,190 | 415 | 35 |
| New York | 1,231 | 409 | 33 |
| Louisiana | 912 | 404 | 44 |
| Tennessee | 1,035 | 386 | 37 |
| Alabama | 966 | 367 | 38 |
| Virginia | 824 | 365 | 44 |
| Missouri | 960 | 364 | 38 |
| Michigan | 980 | 331 | 34 |
| Arizona | 937 | 329 | 35 |
| Mississippi | 783 | 297 | 38 |
| Oklahoma | 749 | 274 | 37 |
| Indiana | 814 | 250 | 31 |
| Wisconsin | 605 | 250 | 41 |
| Kentucky | 826 | 226 | 27 |
| Washington | 521 | 225 | 43 |
| Arkansas | 600 | 205 | 34 |
| Colorado | 548 | 202 | 37 |
| New Jersey | 590 | 197 | 33 |
| Maryland | 591 | 186 | 31 |
| Minnesota | 456 | 161 | 35 |
| Oregon | 416 | 159 | 38 |
| Kansas | 385 | 157 | 41 |
| Massachusetts | 363 | 151 | 42 |
| West Virginia | 380 | 142 | 37 |
| Nevada | 324 | 121 | 37 |
| New Mexico | 366 | 118 | 32 |
| Iowa | 412 | 113 | 27 |
| Connecticut | 264 | 104 | 40 |
| Montana | 229 | 103 | 45 |
| Idaho | 232 | 93 | 40 |
| Nebraska | 208 | 75 | 36 |
| Wyoming | 159 | 75 | 47 |
| Utah | 275 | 55 | 20 |
| New Hampshire | 139 | 53 | 38 |
| North Dakota | 104 | 52 | 50 |
| Hawaii | 107 | 50 | 46 |
| Delaware | 121 | 49 | 40 |
| Maine | 155 | 47 | 30 |
| South Dakota | 119 | 41 | 34 |
| Rhode Island | 65 | 29 | 45 |
| Alaska | 62 | 24 | 38 |
| Vermont | 73 | 15 | 21 |
| Dist of Columbia | 34 | 13 | 39 |
| National | 37,261 | 13,846 | 37 |
| Puerto Rico | 399 | 162 | 41 |
The table below shows alcohol-impaired** motor vehicle fatalities in the US for 2008.
| State | Total Fatalities* | BAC=.08+ | |
| Number | Number | Percent | |
| Texas | 3,382 | 1,269 | 38 |
| California | 3,434 | 1,029 | 30 |
| Florida | 2,978 | 875 | 29 |
| Pennsylvania | 1,468 | 496 | 34 |
| North Carolina | 1,433 | 423 | 30 |
| Georgia | 1,493 | 416 | 28 |
| South Carolina | 920 | 403 | 44 |
| Illinois | 1,043 | 362 | 35 |
| Ohio | 1,190 | 356 | 30 |
| New York | 1,231 | 341 | 28 |
| Louisiana | 912 | 338 | 37 |
| Tennessee | 1,035 | 327 | 32 |
| Alabama | 966 | 315 | 33 |
| Virginia | 824 | 294 | 36 |
| Missouri | 960 | 310 | 32 |
| Michigan | 980 | 282 | 29 |
| Arizona | 937 | 266 | 28 |
| Mississippi | 783 | 266 | 34 |
| Oklahoma | 749 | 244 | 33 |
| Indiana | 814 | 208 | 26 |
| Wisconsin | 605 | 208 | 34 |
| Kentucky | 826 | 200 | 24 |
| Washington | 521 | 182 | 35 |
| Arkansas | 600 | 171 | 28 |
| Colorado | 548 | 173 | 32 |
| New Jersey | 590 | 154 | 26 |
| Maryland | 591 | 152 | 26 |
| Minnesota | 456 | 135 | 30 |
| Oregon | 416 | 136 | 33 |
| Kansas | 385 | 145 | 38 |
| Massachusetts | 363 | 124 | 34 |
| West Virginia | 380 | 128 | 34 |
| Nevada | 324 | 107 | 33 |
| New Mexico | 366 | 105 | 29 |
| Iowa | 412 | 89 | 22 |
| Connecticut | 264 | 86 | 32 |
| Montana | 229 | 91 | 40 |
| Idaho | 232 | 78 | 34 |
| Nebraska | 208 | 55 | 27 |
| Wyoming | 159 | 67 | 42 |
| Utah | 275 | 46 | 17 |
| New Hampshire | 139 | 45 | 32 |
| North Dakota | 104 | 47 | 46 |
| Hawaii | 107 | 42 | 39 |
| Delaware | 121 | 45 | 37 |
| Maine | 155 | 43 | 28 |
| South Dakota | 119 | 34 | 29 |
| Rhode Island | 65 | 25 | 38 |
| Alaska | 62 | 21 | 33 |
| Vermont | 73 | 12 | 16 |
| Dist of Columbia | 34 | 9 | 26 |
| National | 37,261 | 11,773 | 32 |
| Puerto Rico | 399 | 132 | 33 |
*According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), “A motor vehicle crash is considered to be alcohol-related if at least one driver or non-occupant (such as a pedestrian or pedalcyclist) involved in the crash is determined to have had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .01 gram per deciliter (g/dL) or higher. Thus, any fatality that occurs in an alcohol-related crash is considered an alcohol-related fatality. The term ‘alcohol-related’ does not indicate that a crash or fatality was caused by the presence of alcohol.”
**A driver involved in a motor vehicle crash is considered alcohol-impaired if he or she exhibits a BAC of .08 or greater.
Coroner identifies victims killed in Pomona freeway crash
The Los Angeles County coroner has released the names of the two people killed Monday morning following a traffic collision on the 60 Freeway.
Otis Hall Jr., 20, from Upland and Sharon Higgins, 20, from Riverside were struck and killed by a semi truck while they were standing outside their cars after the collision on the 60, near Garey Avenue, in Pomona.
The eastbound lanes of the freeway were shut down at 3:14 a.m. and didn’t reopen for more than three hours.
California Highway Patrol Sgt. Keith Phillips said three vehicles were involved in the first crash and a Mustang and Lexus were left disabled on the shoulder.
He said the two drivers were standing outside their cars when the big rig veered over and struck them and the vehicles.
The truck driver was taken to a hospital.
Cause of the Big-Rig Accident: The California Highway Patrol has begun their Investigation. Based on news reports, the big-rig driver lost control for unknown reasons. It is also possible that the driver of the big-rig was partially responsible for the collision. The CHP will undoubtedly investigate if other factors, such as road conditions or negligent vehicle maintenance were factors in the crash.
Truck Accidents and Wrongful Death Liability Considerations: After a big-rig crash, trucking companies waste no time in having their own investigators determine what happened, to protect them as much as possible. The family members of the victims should contact a skilled California truck accident attorney as soon as possible, who can arrange to have the accident scene inspected (while skid marks and other evidence is still present), and contact witnesses while recollections are still fresh. Because of Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations governing the tucking industry, truck accident cases are challenging and complex and from a legal standpoint, truck accidents are very different than car accidents. Choosing an attorney, such as, Gary A. Kessler who has successfully won cases against trucking companies is imperative to a successful outcome for the victim’s family.
Fatal hit-run driver fled police, bloodhounds near Temecula
Investigators are asking for help from the public to identify a driver who left the scene of a crash late Friday near Temecula that killed a married couple.
California Highway Patrol officials said Monday that alcohol might have been a factor in the crash — officers found an open container in the hit-and-run driver’s car.
About 11:50 p.m. Friday, Carlos Castro, 52, was driving a 2004 Honda Civic east on two-lane Glenoaks Road, CHP officials said. His wife, Laurie Castro, 50, was in the passenger seat. The Castros were just a few miles from their home.
As they approached Bella Vista Road, a westbound 1997 Chrysler Sebring crossed into their lane, striking the Castros’ car head-on, a CHP news release said.
The Castros died at the scene.
Witnesses told officers that the man driving the Sebring got out of the car after the crash and ran. He was last seen heading east on Glenoaks, the release said.
Thatcher said officers, with the help of a bloodhound, combed the rural area for hours but could not locate the driver. The stretch where the cars collided is hilly and lined with orange groves, vineyards and large properties with horses.
Officers were searching Sunday for a man described as Hispanic, about 30 years old, 5-foot-10-inches tall, 190 to 200 pounds, with dark, wavy hair, wearing an orange-and-white striped shirt and white tennis shoes, according to the CHP’s traffic information website.
Authorities ask that anyone with information about the driver who fled call the CHP’s Temecula office at 951-506-2000.
A bouquet of flowers is seen near the spot along Glenoaks Road near Temecula where a husband and wife were killed late Friday in a crash.
Hit and Run Felony – When Hit and Run results in bodily injury or death, a felony will be charged. According to California Law, a Hit and Run Felony is defined as, “a failure to immediately stop at the scene of a motor vehicle accident involving death or permanent injury to any person(s) associated with the accident.” Possible consequences for a Hit and Run Violations A person charged with hit and run may be subject to enhancements if:
- a third party was injured during the accident
- there was excessive damage to property
- the person caused a wrongful death
- the person has a prior criminal conviction
A hit and run conviction can result in jail time, monetary fines, probation, community service, and driver’s license suspension.
How soon after I am injured do I have to file a lawsuit?
Every state has certain time limits called “statutes of limitations,” which govern the amount of time you have to file a personal injury lawsuit. In some states, you may have as little as one year to file a lawsuit arising out of an automobile accident. If you miss the deadline for filing your case, your claims can be dismissed. Consequently, it is important to talk with a lawyer as soon as you receive or discover an injury.
What damages are recoverable in pedestrian accident cases?
The injured party may recover damages for past and future medical expenses, past and future wage loss, past and future pain and suffering. If the defendant’s conduct is extreme, punitive damages may be awarded. If the pedestrian dies, his or her survivors are entitled to recover full compensation for their economic losses that result from the pedestrian’s death, as well as damages which stem from the loss of society care and comfort of the decedent.
Do I need to retain an attorney?
It is almost always a good idea to retain an attorney in a pedestrian accident case because there usually will be some questions related to fault and comparative negligence. Expert witnesses may need to be retained to reconstruct the accident factors, and help determine responsibility for the accident.The family members of the victim would be well advised to contact California Wrongful Death Attorney Gary A. Kessler about their legal rights in a wrongful death claims.
