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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 SUV ran a stoplight and caused a fatal accident in Oakdale. (Photos; Modesto Bee)

Fatal car accident: A Turlock man was killed Monday when his car was broadsided by an SUV that ran a stop sign on Bentley Road in Oakdale.

•     An SUV ran a stop sign on a rural road and slammed into the driver’s side of a Toyota Corolla.

•     The driver of the Corolla died at the scene.

•     CHP officers said neither drugs nor alcohol were involved in the accident.

The deadly accident occurred at about 7 a.m., according to an ABC Channel 10 News report.

California Highway Patrol officer Eric Parsons said 22-year-old Oakdale resident Oscar Ibarra was driving a Jeep Compass northbound on Bentley Road when he drove through the stop sign at Claribel Road.

The Jeep slammed into the driver’s side of a 1999 Toyota Corolla driven by a 46-year-old Oakdale man.

The impact forced both vehicles through a fence and into a cattle pasture on the northwest corner of Claribel and Bentley, according to a report in the Modesto Bee.

The driver of the Toyota died at the scene. His identity was not immediately released.

Parsons said neither drugs nor alcohol were believed to be a factor in the crash. Both drivers were wearing seat belts.

One person was killed and three others were injured in a rural highway accident in Somis.

Fatal highway accident: One person was killed and three others injured Monday in a five-car crash on State Route 118 in Somis.

•     A driver rear-ended a car in front of him on a rural highway, pushing the car into the oncoming traffic lane.

•     The car was broadsided by an oncoming truck. The driver died from his injuries.

•     Two other cars were hit in the accident.

•     All of the drivers were injured and taken to hospitals.

The deadly car accident  just before 4:30 p.m., according to a report in the Ventura County Star.

California Highway Patrol officials said 28-year-old Moorpark resident Domingo Mendoza was driving westbound on Highway 118 (Los Angeles Avenue) at about 50 mph when he rear-ended a sedan driven by 37-year-old Alejandro Hernandez Tamlatzi of Oxnard.

The impact pushed Tamlatzi’s car sideways into the eastbound lane, where it was broadsided by a truck driven by 40-year-old Francisco Arroyo of Moorpark.

Meanwhile, Mendoza’s car rearended a minivan driven by 38-year-old Raul Lopez of Camarillo. The impact from that crash pushed Lopez’s vehicle into a fifth car, driven by 28-year-old Aimee Birkner of Simi Valley.

Tamlatzi suffered severe injuries and was rushed to Los Robles Hospital and Medical Center in Thousand Oaks, where he died at 6:57 p.m.

Mendoza and Lopez sustained injuries and were taken to Ventura County Medical Center in Ventura, CHP officials said. The nature and extent of their injuries was not immediately reported.

Arroyo suffered minor injuries and was treated at Los Robles Hospital.

The accident remained under investigation.

Somis Highway Accident Lawyers

A suicidal driver killed herself and another driver in a crash on Highway 78 in San Marcos. (Photo: Fox5 News)

Fatal highway crash: A suicidal driver deliberately drove the wrong way on Highway 78 early Monday, causing a crash that killed her and another driver in San Marcos.

•    A suicidal woman deliberately drove the wrong way on Highway 78 and crashed head-on into another car.

•    Both drivers were killed.

•    The other driver was a single mother who was on her way to work.

The deadly car accident occurred at about 3 a.m., according to a report in the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Authorities said 48-year-old SanMarcos resident Yi Liu was suffering from depression and deliberately drove her 1997 Nissan Maxima westbound into the eastbound lanes of Highway 78 near San Marcos Boulevard.

The Maxima slammed head-on into a 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser driven by 38-year-old Escondido resident Maria Guadalupe Vargas Lopez.

Both drivers suffered fatal injuries, Fox5 News reported.  Both were pronounced dead on arrival at Palomar Medical Center, according to the Medical Examiner’s Office.

Lopez was a single mother who worked as an independent contractor delivering newspapers for the Union-Tribune. She had just picked up a load of newspapers at a distribution center in San Marcos when she was killed.

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

Sometimes in a serious accident the individual who caused the crash suffers fatal injuries. Can the innocent victim 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.

San Marcos Wrongful Death Lawyers

Two people were killed in a wrong-way freeway crash in Beaumont.

Fatal freeway accident: Two people were killed early Sunday when a man fleeing another accident drove the wrong way on Interstate 10 and crashed head-on into another vehicle in Beaumont.

•     A hit-and-run driver got on the I-10 freeway going in the wrong direction while he was fleeing from an accident.

•     The driver slammed head-on into a pickup truck. The truck burst into flames.

•     Both the hit-and-run driver and the pickup truck driver died at the scene. A third person was hospitalized with major injuries.

The deadly car accident occurred at about 1:30 a.m., according to a report in the Riverside Press-Enterprise.

California Highway Patrol officials said 23-year-old Francisco Hernandez of Highland was fleeing the scene of an accident when he drove a 2012 Toyota TC westbound onto the eastbound lanes of I-10 in Beaumont.

Hernandez crashed into an oncoming 2004 GMC Sierra pickup truck about four-tenths of a mile east of the Brookside Avenue overcrossing.

The pickup truck burst into flames. By the time authorities arrived, the truck was fully engulfed by the blaze, CHP officials said. The driver, who was badly burned, died at the scene. The coroner’s office was attempting to identify him by DNA or dental records, Sgt. Brent Sechrest of the Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner’s office told the Banning-Beaumont Patch news site.

Hernandez also died at the scene.

A third person was hospitalized with major injuries. Authorities did not release that victim’s identity. It was not clear which car that person was riding in.

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

Sometimes in a serious accident the individual who caused the crash suffers fatal injuries. Can the innocent victim 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.

Beaumont Freeway Accident Lawyers

A limo driver was involved in two crashes, one fatal, in Los Angeles. (Photos: KTLA)

A limo driver fled the scene of a non-injury crash Wednesday and then minutes later was involved in a fatal car accident about a half-mile away in Los Angeles.

•     A limo driver was involved in a hit-and-run accident and moments later ran a stoplight and caused a four-car accident about a half-mile away.

•     Four vehicles were involved in the second crash. Four people and seven dogs were injured.

•     The limo driver was taken to a hospital. Toxicology tests were ordered to determine if he was under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

The deadly accident occurred shortly after 1:35 p.m., according to a KTLA News report.

Los Angeles Police Sgt. Mike Zaboski said the limousine was first involved in a non-injury accident near Riverside Drive and Fulton Avenue at about 1:35 p.m. and drove away from the scene.

One report suggested that the limo driver was chasing the other driver in the first accident, while another report said the limo driver reported he was being chased by a man with a gun, possible from the first accident.

Officers are investigating the possibility that the limo driver ran a red light at Fulton Avenue and Magnolia Boulevard, causing a four-car crash with a Lexus sedan and two minivans.

One of the drivers, a 36-year-old man driving a Lexus, was killed in the accident. His name was not released.

The drivers of both of the minivans also were injured, as were seven dogs riding in one of the minivans.

The limo driver was not arrested at the scene. He was taken to a hospital to be treated for his injuries. Police said toxicology tests would be conducted to determine whether the limo driver was under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Los Angeles Car Accident Lawyers

One driver was killed and four other people were hospitalized after an accident on SR 84 in Sunol.

Highway crash: One person died and another four were hospitalized Saturday morning after a head-on collision on State Route 84 in Sunol.

•    A man driving a Dodge Viper suddenly crossed into oncoming traffic on a rural highway.

•    The Dodge crashed head-on into a Toyota pickup truck carrying three passengers.

•   The Dodge driver died at the scene. All four occupants of the Toyota truck were taken to the hospital to be treated for injuries.

The deadly car accident occurred around 9:15 a.m., according to a report in the San Jose Mercury News.

California Highway Patrol officials said 46-year-old Todd Shur of Hayward was driving a 2003 Dodge Viper eastbound on State Route 84 near Main Street in Sunol when the accident occurred.

For unknown reasons, Shur suddenly swerved to the left and crossed the double yellow center line, driving directly into the path of oncoming traffic on the two-lane rural highway, according to a KTVU News report.

Shur’s Dodge crashed head-on into a westbound 2012 Toyota pick-up truck driven by a 48-year-old man from Stockton.

The impact caused the Dodge to skid onto the dirt shoulder; it spun around and came to rest facing the opposite direction.  The Toyota truck, meanwhile, rolled over onto its left side and completely blocked the westbound lane.

A 2002 Chevrolet, driven by a 41-year-old man from Union City, was traveling directly behind the Toyota truck at the time of the accident. The driver of the Chevrolet braked and swerved to avoid the crash, according to the KTVU report, but his vehicle was struck by debris and was disabled in the westbound lane.

Shur died at the scene.

The driver of the Toyota truck and three of his passengers were taken to San Jose Regional Medical Center to be treated for minor injuries they suffered in the accident. The KTVU report said the victims were complaining of back pain.

The driver of the Chevrolet did not report any injuries.

What is a minor injury?

Police and firefighter classifications of “minor injuries” can be misleading. Even a so-called “minor” injury may be far more serious than it initially appears and can have a major impact on the victim’s life. Some injuries aren’t even evident until days or weeks after an accident.

Injuries that are designated as “minor” may include whiplash, strains, sprains, lacerations, and bone fractures. All of these types of injuries may vary in severity.

* Whiplash, for example, is neck injury caused by sudden jerking or “whipping” of the head, as often occurs in car accidents, according to the National Institutes of Health(NIH). It may not be noticed for several days, yet it can cause stiffness and numbness in the head, neck, back, shoulders, and arms. The initial symptoms may appear to go away and then return for months or even years, according to the NIH report.

* Strains and sprains are soft tissue injuries. Strains can cause pain, muscle spasms, swelling, and trouble moving the muscle, according to the NIH. Sprains involve pain, swelling, bruising, and being unable to move the joint. Initial treatment often requires taking time off work to rest the injury, sometimes followed by longer-term physical therapy.

* Lacerations include cuts, tears, and puncture wounds. A variety of factors determine how quickly a laceration may heal. Infection is always a risk with a laceration, and this risk can be particularly dangerous for diabetics. Even minor lacerations may cause permanent scars.

* Bone fractures are very common in car accidents. They can be extremely painful, and may involve swelling, bruising, or bleeding as well as numbness, tingling, and the inability to move a limb. Some fractures require surgery to implant plates, pins, or screws to keep the bone in place. The impact of a fracture on daily activities is immediate and often disabling. Follow-up surgery and physical therapy may stretch the recovery period to months.

Sunol Highway Accident Lawyers

An off-duty border patrol agent was killed in a car accident in El Centro. (Photo: Joselito Villero | Imperial Valley Press)

A 26-year-old border patrol agent was killed in a car accident Friday near El Centro. The off-duty agent was on his way to work.

•     A border patrol agent was on his way to work when he approached a four-way stop intersection.  

•     A Ford SUV traveling on the other road broadsided the agent’s vehicle. Both overturned.

•     The agent was ejected and died at the scene. The other driver was hospitalized.

The fatal accident occurred Friday afternoon at Bowker and McCabe roads, just southeast of El Centro, according to a report in the Imperial Valley Press.

The agent, 26-year-old Francisco Puga of Calexico (on the U.S. side of the border) was driving a 2005 Kia Rio northbound on Bowker Road, approaching the stop sign at McCabe Road.

A 2005 Ford Expedition traveling westbound on McCabe Road broadsided the Kia Rio, hitting the small SUV on the right side. The impact caused both vehicles to roll over, the CHP report said.

Puga, who reportedly was not wearing a seatbelt, was ejected from his vehicle and suffered fatal injuries. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the Ford Expedition, a 43-year-old woman from Mexicali (on the Mexico side of the border), sustained serious injuries and was taken to El Centro Regional Medical Center to be treated. The extent and severity of her injuries was not immediately known.

Puga had been with the Border Patrol for about seven years, according to Lombardo Amaya, union president of National Border Patrol Council Local 2554.

The intersection of Bowker and McCabe roads, where this accident occurred, is considered by locals to be very dangerous, according to the news report. Past CHP reports indicate that it is considered a four-way stop, but the only stop signs are on Bowker Road.

Roadway defects such as improper signage create dangerous road conditions that can lead to accidents, catastrophic injuries, and even death.

El Centro Car Acccident Lawyers

A mother and her two sons were killed by a drunk driver in Daly City. (Video capture: ABC News)

A Sunnyvale man is being held without bail on triple homicide charges after a drunk driving accident killed a mother and her two sons Saturday night in Daly City. A fourth victim was critically injured.

•   A 28-year-old man drank for several hours with friends and then got behind the wheel of a BMW, rear-ended another car, and sped away on city streets at 60 mph.

•   The BMW then T-boned a Toyota, killing a mother and her two sons, and critically injuring a fourth person.

•   The drunk driver, who is being held without bail, was charged with three counts of gross vehicular manslaughter, felony DUI causing great bodily injury, and misdemeanor hit-and-run.

The fatal car accident occurred shortly after 8 p.m., according to a CBS News report. 

Assistant District Attorney Al Serrato said 28-year-old Sunnyvale resident Denis Pereirade Macedo drank heaviily for nearly five hours before he got behind the wheel and rear-ended another vehicle at a stop sign on Eastmoor Avenue.

Macedo then drove around the vehicle and fled the scene in his BMW, heading west on Eastmoor at a speed of up to 60 mph, Serrato said.

A few seconds later, Macedo T-boned a Toyota Tercel that was making a U-turn. The driver of the Tercel, 50-year-old Josefa Osorio Acevedo, was killed, along with her two sons, 23-year-old Amado Osorio Acevedo and 15-year-old Josue Osorio.

Another passenger in the car, Amado Acevedo’s girlfriend, 20-year-old Sarah Sangraw of Daly City, was hospitalized with major injuries, according to a San Francisco Chronicle report. She remained in the hospital on Tuesday.

Macedo was arrested and booked into the San Mateo County jail, where he is being held without bail. His blood alcohol level at the time of the accident was 0.18 percent, Serrato said. That is more than double the legal limit of 0.08 percent.

The drunk driver was charged with three counts of gross vehicular manslaughter while driving under the influence, felony DUI causing great bodily injury, and misdemeanor hit-and-run, Serrato said.

According to the San Mateo County Times, Macedo was already on probation for a Santa Clara County drunk driving conviction when the crash happened.

Daly City Wrongful Death Lawyers

Three people were killed Sunday night in a car accident in Palm Springs. (Video capture: Desert Sun)

Fatal car accident: Three people were killed Sunday night in a head-on crash on Gene Autry Boulevard near Interstate 10 in Palm Springs.

•    A Chevy Impala swerved into oncoming traffic and crashed head-on into a minivan.

•    Both occupants of the Impala died at the scene.

•    The driver of the minivan died at a hospital less than an hour later.

•    Police are awaiting toxicology results to determine whether drugs and/or alcohol were involved in the fatl crash.

The deadly accident occurred at about 10:15 p.m., according to a report in the Desert Sun.

Palm Springs police Sgt. Mike Kovaleff said a northbound 2004 Chevrolet Impala swerved into the southbound lanes and crashed head-on into a 2005 Chrysler Pacifica minivan.

The driver and passenger of the Impala — a 19-year-old woman from Phoenix and a 20-year-old man – both died at the scene. Their identities were withheld pending notification of next of kin.

The driver of the minivan — later identified as 41-year-old Jessie Moralez of Indio – suffered severe injuries and was rushed to Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs. Moralez died at the hospital less than an hour after the crash.

Police are awaiting results of toxicology tests to determine whether drugs and/or alcohol were factors in the fatal head-on crash. Kovaleff said it would take several weeks to get those results.

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

Sometimes in a serious accident the individual who caused the crash suffers fatal injuries. Can the innocent victim 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.

Palm Springs 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.