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A 100-year-old driver (inset) injured 14 pedestrians — including 11 children — waiting to cross a street by a Los Angeles elementary school. (Photo: Fox News | Inset: Los Angeles Times)

Fourteen people — 11 children and three adults — were injured Wednesday when a 100-year-old driver backed into a group of pedestrians who were waiting to cross the street near an elementary school in Los Angeles.

•   A 100-year-old driver tried to back out of a grocery store parking lot and slammed into a group of children near a Los Angeles elementary school.

•   Four of the children were pinned underneath the car. Fire officials said 11 children and three adults were injured. Two remained hospitalized in stable condition.

•   The driver said his brakes failed. Police thought he may have hit the gas pedal instead of the brake. Investigators will inspect the car for mechanical failures.

•   The driver said he would give up driving.

The accident – which drew international attention because of the age of the driver and the number of people injured — occurred at about 2:30 p.m., right after Main Street Elementary School let out, according to an ABC News report.

Preston Carter, who will turn 101 in September, said he had gone shopping at the nearby Food 4 Less grocery store and was backing out of a parking lot to go home at the time of the accident.

He put his Cadillac in reverse, backed out of the parking lot onto 53rd street, and plowed into the crowd on the sidewalk, police Captain Jorge Rodriguez told the Los Angeles Times.

“It was a miscalculation on his part,” Rodriguez said. “He thought he was turning onto the street.”

People were screaming, backpacks were strewn all over the street, and according to witness Alma Solache, there were four children pinned underneath Carter’s vehicle. Solache said Carter then tried to drive his car off of the sidewalk, but stopped when people banged on his window and yelled at him, telling him that children were trapped underneath his vehicle.

Initial reports stated that 11 people were injured, but police said Thursday that 14 people were hurt. Detective John Meneses of the Los Angeles Police Department’s Central Traffic Division told the Times that 11 children and three adults were injured in the accident.

Two of the victims remained hospitalized Thursday, Meneses said. They were reportedly in stable condition.

Carter, who has a valid drivers license and was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol, said his brakes had failed.

“I lost control of the car,” Carter said. “The brakes failed, I think. I’m sorry.”

Police officials also are looking into the possibility that Carter may have mistakenly hit his accelerator pedal instead of the brake when he rammed into the crowd.

After the accident, Carter’s 78-year-old daughter Ella Fleming said the family was grateful that no one was killed in the accident and that her father would not be driving anymore.

“I’m so sorry that it happened,” she told the Times, “and I’m thanking God none of them died.”

Police said no crime was committed and Carter, who has no traffic violations on his record, will not face charges for the accident. Inspectors will examine Carter’s vehicle to determine if there were any mechanical failures.

Los Angeles Pedestrian Accident Lawyers

The trial attorneys at Blackman Legal Group, a California-based law firm founded by renowned trial attorney Clifford Blackman, have successfully represented pedestrian accident victims and their families for 35 years. The nationwide toll-free number to call for a free consultation is 1-866-692-8126.

Four people were killed and five others seriously injured in a head-on rural highway crash in Santa Ysabel. (Photos: KFMB News)

A car accident turned a family outing into a horrible tragedy Wednesday when two vehicles crashed head-on on State Route 78 in Santa Ysabel. Four people were killed and five others were seriously injured.

•   A mother, grandmother, and six children were on a family outing in a minivan when they were involved in a head-on collision on a rural highway.

•   Both drivers were killed, along with two of the young children. 

•   The grandmother and four other children were hospitalized. One of those children may be paralyzed.

•   There were no witnesses, so the CHP is still trying to determine what caused the deadly accident.

Authorities are still trying to determine the cause of the rural highway crash, which occurred at around 3:15 p.m. and killed both drivers, according to a Channel 6 News update. There were no independent witnesses.

California Highway Patrol Officer Brian Pennings said a 33-year-old San Diego woman — later identified as Maryhelen Aguilar — was driving a Honda Odyssey minivan eastbound on the highway when the accident occurred.

Also traveling in the van were Aguilar’s four daughters aged 6, 8, 9, and 13, two nephews aged 3 and 8, and her mother, 67-year-old Gail Romero.

The minivan and a westbound 2010 Pontiac Vibe, driven by a 33-year-old Santa Ana man, crashed head-on near the intersection with State Route 79. Both cars flipped over. The minivan, which reportedly rolled several times, came to rest facing north on the south edge of the highway, Pennings told the San Diego Union-Tribune. The Pontiac landed in the middle of the road, on the double yellow line, facing south.

Both drivers were killed, along with Aguilar’s 8-year-old and 9-year-old daughters. All four of them were pronounced dead at the scene.

Aguilar’s mother and 6-year-old daughter were hospitalized with major injuries. The 6-year-old’s injuries were considered life-threatening, according to the Union-Tribune story. Family members told Channel 6 News that she may be paralyzed. Aguilar’s nephews and her 13-year-old granddaughter were hospitalized with minor to moderate injuries.

Cal Fire Captain Mike Mohler said three of the injured victims were airlifted by helicopter to hospitals, while the other two were taken by ground ambulance.

The driver of the Pontiac Vibe was the only person in that vehicle.

Authorities closed State Route 78 in both directions to clear the accident and conduct a preliminary investigation.

Santa Ysabel Car Accident Lawyers

The trial attorneys at Blackman Legal Group, a California-based law firm founded by renowned trial attorney Clifford Blackman, have successfully represented car accident victims and their families for 35 years. The nationwide toll-free number to call for a free consultation is 1-866-692-8126.

A sleepy driver dozed off and slammed into nine cars at the U.S. border checkpoint south of Temecula. (Photo: California Highway Patrol)

At least one person suffered major injuries Monday morning when a driver fell asleep at the wheel and slammed into nine cars at the U.S. border checkpoint south of Temecula.

•   A drowsy driver in a Chevy Suburban fell asleep at the wheel on Interstate 15 and crashed into nine cars that were parked at the U.S. border checkpoint near  Temecula.

•  A passenger in the Suburban sustained major injuries and was hospitalized for treatment.

•   The CHP did not arrest the driver at the scene, but issued a statement saying the accident was “avoidable.”

The car accident occurred just before 8:30 a.m., according to a report in the Riverside Press-Enterprise.

The California Highway Patrol said 20-year-old David Arriaga of Riverside was driving a 2002 Chevrolet Suburban northbound on Interstate 15, just south of the Border Patrol’s checkpoint in Temecula, at the time of the accident.

Arriaga fell asleep at the wheel and the Suburban veered across the freeway,crashing into vehicles parked at the checkpoint.

The collisions caused a Chevrolet Avalanche pickup truck to flip over onto its side and forced a Mercedes-Benz sedan into the fence along the shoulder of the freeway.

A passenger who was riding in the right front seat of the Suburban suffered major injuries and was taken to a hospital to be treated. Authorities did not release any information about the passenger’s identity or the nature of the injuries.

No other major injuries had been reported by news outlets as of Tuesday morning. Arriaga was not arrested, but the CHP said the investigation was still pending.

“We are very fortunate that nobody was killed,” the CHP press release said. “The collision was avoidable. If you feel tired and fatigued it is not worth it to push your limits. It’s not just your life that you are putting at risk, it is also the lives of others around you.”

Drowsy Driver Accident Statistics

Every year 37,000 people are injured — and almost 1,000 are killed — in accidents caused by drowsy drivers, according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Admnistration (NHTSA).

Drowsy driving is a major safety hazard, especially because it is so common:

•   62% of surveyed American adults (72% of men and 54% of women) reported driving while feeling drowsy.

•   37% of surveyed American adults (49% of men and 26% of women) said they have dozed off while driving at least once.

•   27% of surveyed American adults (36% of men and 20% of women) said they have dozed off while driving in the past year.

Temecula Car Accident Lawyers

The trial attorneys at Blackman Legal Group, a California-based law firm founded by renowned trial attorney Clifford Blackman, have successfully represented car accident victims and their families for 35 years. The nationwide toll-free number to call for a free consultation is 1-866-692-8126.

Dozens of passengers were hurt when a Metro train and an MTA bus crashed in Los Angeles.

Metro crash: At least 32 people were injured Monday when a Metro Blue Line train crashed into an MTA bus near downtown Los Angeles.

•   A Metro Blue Line train hit the back of a crowded MTA bus during morning rush hour.

•   Three dozen bus passengers and eight train passengers were assessed at the scene by paramedics. 

•   At least 32 injured passengers were taken to area hospitals to be treated.

•   There have been 22 accidents and six fatalities in Metro accidents this year.

The accident occurred during the morning commute, at about 6:56 a.m., according to a report in the Los Angeles Times.

Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority spokesman Marc Littman said the Line 51 bus — which runs between Wilshire Center and the Artesia Transit Center — was “standing room only,” with about 50 rush-hour passengers jammed inside.

The bus was in the intersection of San Pedro Street and Washington Boulevard when a southbound Blue Line train crashed into the back of it. The impact caused the bus to spin and hit a light pole, Littman said.

Paramedics assessed at least three dozen people from the bus and about eight from the train, Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Brian Humphrey told the LA Daily News.

At least 32 people were injured, according to  LAFD officials. Metro spokesman Rick Jager said 31 of the victims suffered minor injuries while another’s injuries were classified as serious based on his complaints of dizziness. The injured passengers were taken to nine different hospitals, Humphrey said.

“The incident was every paramedic’s worst nightmare: a traffic collision between mass transit vehicles,” Humphrey said. “Thankfully, LAFD responders were able to rely on their training in what proved to be a relatively minor collision.”

The Times report said the Blue Line is on pace for the highest number of deaths in it’s two-decade history:

 The Blue Line has been under scrutiny because of its recent record of accidents and fatalities. Earlier this month, officials said the light-rail line, which runs from L.A. to Long Beach, had 22 accidents and six fatalities so far in 2012 and is on pace for the highest number of deaths in its 22-year history.

Buses were sent to provide transportation for passengers affected by the accident, Metro spokesperson Helen Ortiz Gilstrap told the Daily News. Train service was restored at around 9 a.m.

Los Angeles Metro Accident Lawyers

The trial attorneys at Blackman Legal Group, a California-based law firm founded by renowned trial attorney Clifford Blackman, have successfully represented light rail accident victims for more than two decades. The nationwide toll-free number to call for a free consultation is 1-866-692-8126.

A passenger was killed when a drunk driver crashed into her car on Highway 4 in Concord.

Fatal DUI crash: A 23-year-old passenger was killed Friday night when a drunk driver crashed into her car on Highway 4 in Concord.

•   A drunk driver in a Honda Accord was weaving across Highway 4 and crashed into a Mazda 6.

•   The Mazda then careened out of control, went off the highway, and hit a power pole.

•   A passenger in the Mazda died at the scene. The Mazda driver suffered major injuries.

•   The Honda driver was arrested on felony drunk driving and manslaughter charges.

The deadly highway crash was reported at 10:43 p.m., according to a report in the Contra Costa Times.

The victim, a Napa woman, was riding in an eastbound 2004 Mazda 6 driven by a 29-year-old Napa man. A few minutes earlier — at 10:38 p.m. — the California Highway Patrol had received a call about a black Honda that was swerving across the roadway at varying speeds.

Two fatal crashes in three days

The 1999 Honda Accord, driven by a 32-year-old drunk driver from Antioch, crashed into the Mazda near the Solano Way exit, according to a report in the Napa Valley Register.

The violent impact sent the Mazda careening out of control. The vehicle went off of the roadway and crashed into a light pole, according to the California Highway Patrol report. The Mazda continued down a dirt embankment and finally came to rest in a dirt field.

The female passenger in the Mazda died at the scene. The driver suffered major injuries, including broken vertebrae, broken ribs, and internal bleeding, the CHP said. He was transported via ground ambulance to a nearby hospital.

The Honda driver, who stopped his car in the center median after the accident, suffered a wrist injury. He was arrested on felony drunk driving and manslaughter charges, the CHP said.

Just 72 hours earlier, on Tuesday night, another woman was killed and four people seriously injured in a chain-reaction accident about two miles away on the same highway. Read more about that accident: Martinez: 1 Dead, 4 Injured in Fiery Crash on Hwy 4

Concord Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers

The trial attorneys at Blackman Legal Group, a California-based law firm founded by renowned trial attorney Clifford Blackman, have successfully represented drunk driving accident victims and their families for 35 years. The nationwide toll-free number to call for a free consultation is 1-866-692-8126.

One person was killed and four others hospitalized when a car crashed on Highway 4 in Martinez. (Photo: Craig Cannon | Martinez Patch)

Fatal car accident: One person was killed and four others seriously injured Tuesday night in a fiery crash that sent a car down an embankment off of Highway 4 in Martinez.

•   A driver lost control of a small Nissan sedan on a busy highway, crashed into a center divider, caromed back across the road, and hit a guard rail at the right shoulder.

•   An SUV hit the Nissan from behind, sending it down an embankment. The Nissan caught fire. The driver was trapped in the vehicle and died at the scene.

•   Four people in the SUV suffered serious injuries. At least two were hospitalized.

The highway crash occurred shortly before 7 p.m., according to a report in the Contra Costa Times.

California Highway Patrol Officer Dave Bartlett said the chain-reaction accident started when the driver of a Nissan Sentra sedan lost control for unknown reasons near the Morello Avenue exit.

The Sentra veered across the highway and crashed into the center divider, then back across the traffic lanes and hit the side guard rail.

A sports utility vehicle struck the Sentra from behind. The impact sent the small sedan off of the roadway and down an embankment. The car burst into flames. The driver, who was alone in the car, was trapped inside the vehicle and died at the scene. No information about the driver’s identity was released.

Four people in the SUV suffered serious injuries. At least two were hospitalized, but the nature and severity of their injuries was not released.

The accident remains under investigation.

What happens when the driver who is at fault dies in the accident?

It’s a tragedy when a person is killed in a car accident. But what happens to the other victims? If the individual who caused the crash suffers fatal injuries, can the other victims still make a claim?

The answer is yes. The case survives even when the wrongdoer doesn’t. The insurance carrier for the car that the wrongdoer was driving remains liable for damages. If that policy does not have enough coverage, additional compensation may be sought via Underinsured Motorist coverage from the insurance carrier for the vehicle in which the innocent victim was a driver or passenger.

If a lawsuit is necessary, it would be filed against the estate of the wrongdoer. If there is no estate, then the injured party can force an estate to be set up to handle the lawsuit.

Martinez Car Accident Lawyers

The trial attorneys at Blackman Legal Group, a California-based law firm founded by renowned trial attorney Clifford Blackman, have successfully represented car accident victims and their families for 35 years. The nationwide toll-free number to call for a free consultation is 1-866-692-8126.

A drowsy driver crossed into oncoming traffic in rural Aptos and crashed head-on into another vehicle, trapping the injured driver inside.

A 46-year-old Watsonville man was airlifted to a hospital with serious injuries Monday after a drowsy driver crashed head-on into his pickup truck on Freedom Boulevard in Aptos, about 10 miles east of Santa Cruz.

•  A drowsy driver nodded off and veered across a double yellow line into oncoming traffic.

•   His vehicle crashed head-on into a pickup truck, trapping the driver inside.

•   Firefighters had to extricate the victim, who was airlifted to a hospital with serious injuries. His 16-year-old son, who was riding in the passenger seat, also was hospitalized with serious injuries.

•   Drugs and alcohol were not involved in the accident, according to the CHP.

The accident occurred at about 5:10 p.m., according to a report in the San Jose Mercury News.

California Highway Patrol officer Sarah Jackson said a 29-year-old Aptos man was driving a Chevy 1500 pickup truck westbound on Freedom Boulevard when he fell asleep at the wheel and crossed the double yellow line into the oncoming traffic lane.

The Chevy truck crashed head-on into an eastbound  Toyota Tundra pickup truck driven by the Watsonville man, whose 16-year-old son was riding in the passenger sear.

The violent impact pinned the driver into the Tundra truck. Firefighters had to use the Jaws of Life to extricate him from the vehicle. Paramedics airlifted the victim by helicopter to San Jose Regional Medical Center. His son, who also was seriously injured, was transported by ground ambulance to Watsonville Community Hospital.

The driver of the other truck sustained minor injuries and was treated and released at the scene.

Alcohol and drugs were not factors in the accident, Officer Jackson said.

Drowsy Driver Accident Statistics

Every year 37,000 people are injured — and almost 1,000 are killed — in accidents caused by drowsy drivers, according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Admnistration (NHTSA).

Drowsy driving is a major safety hazard, especially because it is so common:

•   62% of surveyed American adults (72% of men and 54% of women) reported driving while feeling drowsy.

•   37% of surveyed American adults (49% of men and 26% of women) said they have dozed off while driving at least once.

•   27% of surveyed American adults (36% of men and 20% of women) said they have dozed off while driving in the past year.

Santa Cruz Car Accident Lawyers

The trial attorneys at Blackman Legal Group, a California-based law firm founded by renowned trial attorney Clifford Blackman, have successfully represented car accident victims and their families for 35 years. The nationwide toll-free number to call for a free consultation is 1-866-692-8126.

A big-rig ran a red light in Modesto and plowed into another vehicle, killing the driver.

Fatal big-rig crash: A Patterson man was killed Thursday evening when a big-rig ran a red light and crashed into his vehicle at the intersection of Hart Road and Highway 132 in Modesto.

•   A big-rig driver ran a red light and plowed into the driver’s side door of a pickup truck at 50 mph.

•   The impact slammed the pickup truck into a third vehicle.

•   The pickup truck driver died. The driver and passenger in the third vehicle were hospitalized with moderate injuries.

The rural highway crash occurred at 6:22 p.m., according to a report in the Modesto Bee.

California Highway Patrol officer Eric Parsons said 51-year-old Harjit Bassi of Turlock was driving a big-rig east on Highway 132 when he ran a red light at Hart Road at about 50 mph.

The big-rig crashed into the driver’s side door of a 2012 Dodge pickup truck driven by 51-year-old Neil Phillips Jr. of Patterson, according to a report in the Patterson Irrigator. The impact slammed the pickup into a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt that was stopped on the highway waiting to make a left turn onto Hart Road. The Cobalt was driven by 25-year-old Jose Rivera of Patterson.

Phillips suffered severe injuries and was transported by ground ambulance to Doctor’s Medical Center in Modesto, where he died.

Rivera and his passenger, 24-year-old Johana Machain of Patterson, suffered moderate injuries, according to the Bee. They were transported to Memorial Medical Center in Modesto to be treated.

Bassi was not injured.

Parsons said drugs and alcohol were not involved in the accident. Investigators will determine whether any charges will be filed against Bassi.

Modesto Truck Accident Lawyers

The trial attorneys at Blackman Legal Group, a California-based law firm founded by renowned trial attorney Clifford Blackman, have successfully represented truck accident victims and their families for 35 years. The nationwide toll-free number to call for a free consultation is 1-866-692-8126.

Four people were injured when a drunk driver ran through a stop sign at this intersection in Tulare and struck another vehicle.

Four people were injured in a drunk driving accident Thursday morning when the driver ran a stop sign and crashed into another vehicle just outside the Tulare city limits. The driver fled the scene but was found and arrested.

•   A 21-year-old driver under the influence of both alcohol and drugs ran a stop sign, crashed into another vehicle, and fled the scene.

•   The other driver and three passengers were seriously injured. 

•   Police found the drunk driver at the home of one of the injured passengers and arrested him on charges of  felony hit-and-run and driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs.

The hit-and-run crash occurred at 2:45 a.m. at the intersection of Enterprise Street and Tulare Avenue, according to a report in the Visalia Times-Delta.

California Highway Patrol Officer Scott Harris said 21-year-old Mark Holguin Jr. of Tulare was driving a 2006 Mitsubishi Gallant northbound on Enterprise Street under the influence of both alcohol and drugs at the time of the accident.

He ran the stop sign at Tulare Avenue and crashed into a 2012 Chevrolet Cruise driven by 26-year-old Jon Dillon, also of Tulare, Harris said. Holguin fled the scene.

Dillon suffered relatively minor injuries and was transported via ground ambulance to Kaweah Delta Medical Center to be treated. Two passengers suffered major injuries, according to the CHP report.

One of Holguin’s passengers — 22-year-old Rudy Tostarenteria  – suffered a broken pelvis, a back injury, and additional cuts and bruises.  Another passenger — 26-year-old Ashley Perry, suffered a large cut to her head, a collapsed lung, and additional cuts and bruises. She may have been a passenger in Dillon’s car, but the Times-Delta report was not clear on that.

Tostarenteria and Perry were transported to Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno, where Tostareteria was listed in serious condition. Information on Perry’s condition was not available.

Another passenger in Holguin’s vehicle — 20-year-olf Patrick Ragland — suffered scrapes and bruises. Police officers found Holguin and Ragland’s home after the accident. Holguin was arrested and taken into custody on charges of felony hit-and-run and driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs.

Tulare Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers

The trial attorneys at Blackman Legal Group, a California-based law firm founded by renowned trial attorney Clifford Blackman, have successfully represented the families of drunk driving accident victims for 35 years. The nationwide toll-free number to call for a free consultation is 1-866-692-8126.

A 31-year-old passenger was killed in a DUI crash on Highway 36 in Bridgeville (45 miles from Eureka).

A 31-year-old passenger was killed in a drunk driving accident Tuesday night when the driver lost control and drove off of Highway 36 in Bridgeville, 45 miles southeast of Eureka.

•   A drunk driver lost control of her pickup truck on a narrow mountain highway and drove off the road.

•   The truck rolled down an embankment, ejecting the passenger. He died at the scene. 

•   The drunk driver sustained moderate injuries. She was treated at a hospital and then booked into the county jail on charges of driving under the influence and manslaughter.

The fatal solo-vehicle car accident occurred at around 9:40 p.m., according to an article in the Eureka Times-Standard.

The California Highway Patrol report said that 35-year-old Jennifer Lynn Diloreto of Hydesville was under the influence of alcohol when she drove a white Toyota pickup truck eastbound on State Route 36 with the victim in the passenger seat.

Diloreto’s pickup truck crossed over into the westbound lane for unknown reasons and then went off of the left (north) shoulder of the highway. The truck rolled down an embankment onto the rocky riverbank below, the CHP report stated.

Diloreto’s passenger was ejected from the truck. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The Humboldt County Coroner’s Office later confirmed his identity as 31-year-old Jason Molter of Lake Elsinore.

Diloreto suffered moderate injuries and was transported by ground ambulance to Redwood Memorial Hospital in Fortuna, about halfway between Bridgeville and Eureka. She was treated at the hospital and then booked into the Humboldt County Jail on charges of driving under the influence and manslaughter, the CHP report said.

Assistant District Attorney Kelly Neel said Diloreto was arrested on drunk driving charges in 2011 with a blood alcool level almost twice the legal limit. Dilorteto failed to complete a multiple offender course as ordered by the court, Neel said. A bench warrant for her arrest on the 2011 DUI charge was active at the time of Tuesday’s crash.

The multiple offender status stemmed from an arrest for possession of marijuana in 2008, according to court documents. Diloreto completed a program following that arrest and those charges were dismissed.

 Humboldt County Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers

The trial attorneys at Blackman Legal Group, a California-based law firm founded by renowned trial attorney Clifford Blackman, have successfully represented the families of drunk driving accident victims for 35 years. The nationwide toll-free number to call for a free consultation is 1-866-692-8126.