A preliminary investigation into a head-on crash that on Saturday killed one person, injured three others and forced the closure of Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu suggests that a blown tire may have started the deadly chain of events, officials said.

The 19-year-old driver of a red Ford Explorer told investigators he lost control of the sport-utility vehicle after his right rear tire blew out, according to Det. Richard Curry with Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

The SUV crossed over into oncoming traffic where it crashed head on into a black Toyota 4Runner, which then spun out and collided with a Lexus.

Sheriff’s Sgt. Anthony Arnold said the dead person was a juvenile who had been a passenger in the Ford Explorer. Investigators said the victim and driver had been partying in the area the night before. It was not immediately known whether drugs or alcohol played a role in the crash, but investigators said they are looking into the possibility.

The crash was at 8:10 a.m. Saturday in an S-curve just east of the Los Angeles County fire battalion headquarters at Carbon Canyon Road. The vehicles came to rest at the western-most intersection of PCH and Rambla Pacifica, which intersects PCH twice .

PCH was reopened around 4 p.m. Saturday, several hours after the crash, according to California Highway Patrol officials. The area was cordoned off for the death investigation and to clear wreckage from the road.

There are no other roads along that section of the Malibu coast, which caused massive traffic snarls.

Resident Karen Horner said she was driving back to her home along PCH when she hit the traffic.

Authorities, Horner said, told her to park her car and walk home.

A SigAlert for the area was declared, but has since been lifted.

Automobile Collisions and Wrongful Death Liability

While the accident October 27 remains under investigation, the  family members of the victims would be well-advised to seek immediate consultation from an experienced wrongful death lawyer. An experienced attorney can advise the victims of their legal rights and decide the best course of action in recovering the maximum compensation for their injuries, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Also, in unique and complex situations such as this one, an attorney can hire a highly skilled independent investigator to reconstruct the scene of the accident to determine who is at fault.

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.  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.