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A 22-year-old was killed by a wrong-way driver on SR 56 in Rancho Penasquitos.

Fatal highway crash: A 22-year-old man was killed Thursday when a wrong-way driver slammed into his car on State Route 56 in Rancho Penasquitos, 20 miles north of central San Diego.

•   An 18-year-old in a Land Rover SUV veered across the center median of State Route 56 and slammed head-on into an oncoming Toyota Scion. 

•   The 22-year-old driver of the Scion died at the scene.

•   The wrong-way driver was hospitalized with severe injuries.  Police suspect he was under the influence of some kind of medication or controlled substance at the time of the fatal accident.

The deadly head-on car accident occurred shortly after 9:30 a.m., according to a CBS Channel 8 News report.

California Highway Patrol officials said 18-year-old Timothy Barnette of San Diego was driving a 2002 Land Rover Discovery SUV eastbound on State route 56 when he suddenly lost control and veered across the sandy center median into oncoming traffic.

The Land Rover slammed head-on into a westbound 2010 Toyota Scion driven by 22-year-old Nick Hart.

Marine Corps veteran Danny Donnellan, who was driving behind the Scion witnessed the entire accident. He said the impact launched the Land Rover “almost straight up in the air.” Barnett was ejected from his vehicle and had to be removed from underneath the SUV, which had traveled up an embankment.

Donnellan, who served two tours of duty in Afghanistan, tried to use his first aid training to assist the victims but Hart — who had to be extricated from his crushed compact car — had no pulse and was bleeding profusely from his ear.

“He had obviously suffered a blunt trauma to the head,” Donnellan told CBS8 News. Hart died at the scene.

Donnellan said the wrong-way driver, Barnette, was conscious but in shock and “obviously very confused as to what had happened.”  Barnette was taken to Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla to be treated for severe injuries. He later was reported to be in fair condition.

CHP investigators suspected that Barnette was under the influence of some type of medication or other controlled substance at the time of the crash. A spokesman for the CHP said criminal charges were expected to be filed against the 18-year-old, pending toxicology results.

San Diego Highway Crash Lawyers

An SUV jumped a curb and killed an elderly pedestrian at a bus stop in Fresno. (Photo: ABC News)

Fatal pedestrian accident: An SUV jumped a curb and killed an elderly woman waiting at a bus stop Thursday near Fresno.

•   An elderly pedestrian was standing on a sidewalk near a bus stop when an SUV jumped the curb and struck her.

•   The pedestrian, who suffered severe injuries, was rushed to the hospital, where she died.

•   Police located the driver of the SUV, but did not release any information about him.

The deadly accident – on Shaw Avenue near Pollasky Avenue in Clovis — occurred shortly before 7 a.m., according to an ABC News report.

Clovis Police Sgt. Jim Koch said a sports utility vehicle traveling eastbound on Shaw Avenue jumped the curb for unknown reasons and went up onto the sidewalk near Pollasky Avenue.

The SUV struck 73-year-old Enedina Carrillo, who was standing on the sidewalk near a bus stop.

Carrillo was rushed to Community Regional Medical Center, where she died from the injuries she suffered in the accident, according to a report in the Fresno Bee.

Police did not release the identity of the SUV driver.

Pedestrian Accident Statistics

Every two minutes, a pedestrian is killed by a motor vehicle somewhere in the United States. Every eight minutes, another pedestrian is injured. In 2010, that added up to 4,280 pedestrian deaths and an estimated 70,000 serious pedestrian injuries in traffic crashes across the country, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Fresno Pedestrian Accident Lawyers

A driver was killed when her car was T-boned by another driver who ran a red light in El Cajon. (Photo: CBS8)

Fatal car accident: A 36-year-old woman was killed Thursday when her car was broadsided by another driver who ran a red light in El Cajon.

•   At an El Cajon intersection where red-light cameras have been disabled, a motorist in an Acura ran the light and broadsided a Chevrolet sedan. 

•   The impact toppled the Chevy onto its side.

•   The driver of the Chevy died at the scene.

The deadly traffic accident occurred shortly before 6:30 a.m. at the intersection of  East Washington and South Mollison avenues, according to a CBS Channel 8 News report.

El Cajon Police Lt. Frank La Haye said El Cajon resident Nicole Hay, 36, as driving a Chevrolet Sonic southbound on Mollison Avenue when she entered the intersection at East Washington Avenue on a green light.

A westbound Acura Integra, driven by a 43-year-old El Cajon woman whose identity was not immediately released, ran a red light on Washington Avenue and slammed into the side of Hay’s car. The impact knocked the Sonic over onto the driver’s side.

Hay died at the scene.

The driver of the Integra was seriously injured. Witnesses at the scene administered first aid until paramedics arrived, when the woman was taken to a hospital to be treated. Lt. La Haye said her injuries were not believed to be life-threatening.

The intersection was previously monitored by red light cameras, but the cameras were covered in canvas at the time of the accident. According to the CBS report, the city council recently voted to shut off some of the cameras, and the intersection where this fatal accident took place was one of those affected.

 El Cajon Car Accident Lawyers

A mother of three was killed when her car was hit by a wrong-way driver in Mission Viejo. (Photo: ABC News)

Fatal car accident: A mother of three was killed Tuesday when her car was slammed by a wrong-way driver on Santa Margarita Parkway in Mission Viejo.

•   A wrong-way driver in a pickup truck crashed head-on into a miivan driven by a mother of three children.

•   The minivan driver died at the scene.

•   The wrong-way driver sustained critical injuries.

•   Authorities said the wrong-way driver, who had a prior DUI conviction, may have been  under the influence of alcohol when the fatal car accident occurred.

The deadly accident occurred at about 11:40 p.m., according to an ABC News report.

Orange County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Jim Amormino said 42-year-old William Carroll of Mission Viejo as driving a Ford F-250 pickup truck on El Toro Road when he made a left turn, heading south, into the northbound side of Santa Margarita Parkway.

The pickup truck slammed into an oncoming northbound Toyota Sienna minivan driven by 36-year-old Ana Martinez of Trabuco Canyon.

Martinez, who was the mother of three children between the ages of 7 and 14, died at the scene.

Carroll suffered major injuries and was transported to Mission Hospital, where he initially was listed in critical condition.

The Sheriff’s Department said that the wrong-way driver had a prior DUI conviction and that alcohol was suspected as a factor in the fatal accident.

 Mission Viejo Car Accident Lawyers

A hit-and-run driver ran a red light and caused a fatal multi-car accident in Temecula. (Photo: SWRNN)

Fatal hit-and-run crash:  Police arrested a Menifee man on vehicular homicide charges after he ran a red light, caused a fatal accident, and fled the scene Monday in Temecula.

•   A driver in a pickup truck ran a red light and crashed into two cars in an intersection in front of a shopping center.

•   The truck driver fled the scene.

•   One woman was killed and two others were seriously injured in the hit-and-run crash. 

•   Police caught and arrested the hit-and-run driver, who was treated for injuries and released. He was charged with vehicular homicide and felony hit-and-run.

The deadly car accident occurred at about 2:45 p.m. at the intersection of Rancho California Road and Town Center, according to a Valley News report.

Witnesses told police that a man — later identified as 63-year-old Travis Hughes Braswell of Menifee — was driving a pickup truck westbound on Rancho California Road when he ran a red light at the Town Center shopping area.

The truck slammed into a gold Pontiac, and then spun out of control and crashed into a gold Saturn. Braswell fled the scene.

The woman driving the Pontiac, 27-year-old Sharina Thomason of Escondido, suffered deadly injuries was taken to a nearby hospital in “full arrest,” Riverside County Fire Department spokeswoman Jody Hagemann told the Southwest Riverside News Network. Thomason was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Two other victims were taken to hospitals to be treated for moderate and minor injuries, Hagemann said.

Police found Braswell in the shopping center. He was transported to a local hospital to be treated, and then arrested on vehicular homicide and felony hit-and-run charges.  Police booked Braswell into the Southwest Detention Center.

The accident remains under investigation. Anyone with further information is urged to contact the Temecula Police Department at 951-696-3000.

Temecula Hit-and-Run Accident Lawyers

A drunk driver drove the wrong way on Highway 24 in Lafayette and caused a fatal accident.

Fatal freeway crash: A drunk driver who was going the wrong way on Highway 24 crashed into another vehicle and killed the driver Friday in Lafayette.

•   A drunk driver drove the wrong way on the freeway and crashed head-on into another vehicle.

•   The other driver was killed in the freeway crash.

•   A third car was involved in the accident. 

•   The  drunk driver was arrested.

The deadly drunk driving accident occurred at around 1:30 a.m., according to a report in the San Francisco Chronicle.

California Highway Patrol Officer John Fransen said 20-year-old Annelise McKay of Brentwood was driving a Toyota Avalon, with only one working headlight, eastbound in the westbound lanes of the freeway near St. Stephens Road.

The Toyota crashed head-on into a westbound Geo Metro driven by 51-year-old Alvaro Cruz of Pittsburg. The impact caused the Metro to spin out and crash into a Buick sedan.

Cruz died at the scene.

The driver of the Buick suffered from pain and was taken to a hospital by his wife.

The wrong-way drunk driver sustained minor injuries. She was taken to John Muir Medical Center and then released into police custody. She was arrested on drunk driving charges. The CHP did not say whether she would face any additional charges.

Lafayette Freeway Crash Lawyers

An unsafe lane change on I-80 caused a major injury accident in San Pablo.

Three people were hospitalized with major injuries Thursday after a car accident caused by an unsafe lane change on westbound Interstate 80 in San Pablo.

•    An SUV made an unsafe lane change on I-80 and slammed into a Honda sedan.

•    The Honda crashed into the center divider and flipped over the wall.

•    Three passengers in the Honda were hospitalized with major injuries.

The three-vehicle freeway accident occurred shortly before 4 p.m., according to a report in the Contra Costa Times.

California Highway Patrol officials said the driver of a 2009 Toyota Highlander made an unsafe lane change and crashed into a 1992 Honda Prelude.

The impact caused the driver of the Honda to lose control of the vehicle and it slammed into the center divider, the CHP said. The car flipped over the wall, partially ejecting one of the passengers.

The driver of the Honda suffered minor injuries, but all three passengers in that vehicle sustained major injuries and were hospitalized at Doctor’s Medical Center in San Pablo. The three men were from Richmond. Their names were not immediately released.

The driver of the Toyota SUV and a third vehicle involved in the accident were not injured.

Aggressive Driving: Unsafe Lane Changes Cause Accidents

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) defines aggressive driving as “the operation of a motor vehicle in a manner that endangers or is likely to endanger persons or property.” Speeding, improper lane changing, tailgating and improper passing all are examples of aggressive driving, according to the NHTSA.

In California, unsafe lane changes are among the top six causes of car accidents, according to the state Department of Motor Vehicles.

San Pablo Freeway Accident Lawyers

A high school student’s neck was slashed by a sickle while he was walking in Hamilton City.

Pedestrian accident: A 17-year-old who was walking to school was slashed on the neck by a hay sickle protruding from a pickup truck Monday in Hamilton City.

•   A teen was walking to school when he was passed by a pickup truck with a hay sickle protruding from the rear. 

•   The hay sickle slashed the the boy’s neck.

•   The truck driver stopped and stayed with the boy until help arrived.

•   The boy was hospitalized.

The accident occurred shortly before 8 a.m. near the Hamilton Union High School campus, according to a report in the Orland Press-Register.

California Highway Patrol Officer Tracy Hoover said the student was walking eastbound on County Road 203 (Canal Road), from the parking lot toward campus, just before the accident.

A 2007 Dodge pickup truck, driven by 47-year-old Israel Chavez of Orland, drove past the boy, with the hay sickle protruding from the rear of the truck,  the CHP said.  The sickle cut the boy’s neck.

Chavez stopped and stayed with the teen until help arrived. The boy was taken to Enloe Medical Center in Chico — about 10 miles away — to be treated.

Hamilton City Pedestrian Accident Lawyers

A teen driver caused a fatal highway crash in Perris.

Fatal highway crash: A Moreno man was killed Friday night in a head-on crash caused by a teen driver who crossed the center divider on Highway 74 in Perris.

•     A teen driver with four passengers in his Ford Taurus crossed over the center divider of a highway and crashed into an oncoming Mazda Protege.

•     The driver of the Protege was killed.

•     The teen driver and all four of his passengers were injured and taken to hospitals to be treated.

•     Authorities said alcohol was not involved in the accident.

The deadly head-on crash occurred just before midnight, according to a report in the Riverside Press-Enterprise.

Riverside County Sheriff’s Department officials said a teen driving a Ford Taurus crossed over the center divider for unknown reasons and slammed into an oncoming Mazda Protege.

The driver of the Protege, 54-year-old Moreno Valley resident Robert Washington, suffered severe injuries and was taken to Inland Valley Medical Center in Wildomar. He was pronounced dead at the hospital.

The teen driver and four of his passengers, all of whom were minors, suffered a variety of injuries and were treated at a local hospital. Their names and ages were not released.

The sheriff’s department said in a news release that alcohol was not suspected to be a factor in the deadly accident.

Eric Ringdahl (inset) was riding in the bike lane when he was struck and killed by a driver who fell asleep at the wheel in Carlsbad. (Photo inset; DMV)

Fatal bicycle accident: Police investigators believe a driver fell asleep at the wheel Sunday morning before he struck and killed a cyclist riding in the bike lane on El CaminoReal in Carlsbad.

•   A bicyclist was riding with a friend in the bike lane when he was struck and killed by a car.

•   The driver of the car said he was returning home from a graveyard shift and fell asleep at the wheel.

•   Investigators are checking phone records to find out if the driver was talking or texting when the accident happened.

The deadly accident occurred at 7:40 a.m. in the 7400 block of El Camino Real, according to a report in the San Diego Union Tribune.

Carlsbad police Lt. Kelly Cain said 45-year-old Carlsbad resident Eric Ringdahl was properly riding in the bike lane with a fellow rider when he was struck and killed by a car north of La Costa Avenue.

Ringdahl was married with children.

The motorist, whose identity was not immediately released, told investigators he was heading home after a working a night shift and fell asleep at the wheel. The motorist said that was when his car drifted into the bike lane.

Cain said police have no evidence to the contrary, but are checking the driver’s cell phone records to see if he was talking or texting at the time of the fatal bicycle accident. Police do not suspect that drugs or alcohol were involved.

Cain said police do not believe the driver intended to strike Ringdahl. Investigators are waiting for the medical examiner’s report, which could take more than a month. After that, the District Attorney’s Office will review the case and decide if the driver will be charged. He could face charges of  misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter.

Carlsbad Bicycle Accident Lawyers