A 17-year-old Santa Ana boy was killed in a fiery traffic crash Sunday in the Valley Glen area in the San Fernando Valley, the California Highway Patrol said.

Miles Eubanks, a back passenger in a 2004 Chevrolet, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash on the southbound 170 north of Victoria Boulevard, according to a CHP news release.

The crash occurred at about 6:30 p.m. when the driver of the Chevrolet struck a disabled 2007 Jeep in the No. 1 lane.

“The driver of the Chevrolet made a hard brake … but was unable to stop before rear-ending the Jeep,” according to the CHP news release.

Both vehicles were stopped in the No. 1 lane, with the Jeep in front, the CHP said.

The Chevrolet driver and his front passenger got out of the vehicle to check on the driver of the Jeep, the CHP added. Eubanks stayed inside.

That’s when the driver of a Lexus SUV rear-ended the Chevrolet while it was stopped in the No. 1 lane, the CHP said. The Chevrolet overturned and caught on fire.

Eubanks was unable to escape before the vehicle was consumed by fire, the CHP said.

Paramedics with the Los Angeles Fire Department pronounced Eubanks dead at the scene. The front passenger of the Chevrolet was taken to a nearby hospital with minor injures.

Cause of the Valley Glen Crash

If news accounts of this incident are accurate, the Lexus-SUV driver  is likely responsible for the incident. 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 wrongful death claim.

Automobile Collisions and Wrongful Death Liability

While the accident on July 8 remains under investigation, the   family members of the victim 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.