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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 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

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

Two drivers were killed in a freeway accident on I-5 near Woodland,

Two drivers died Saturday night in a fiery freeway accident on Interstate 5 north of Woodland. Police say alcohol may have been involved.

•    An Oldsmobile was stopped in the fast lane of a freeway late at night, facing the wrong direction, with the lights turned off.

•    A Honda approached, could not see the blacked-out Oldsmobile, and crashed into it. The impact forced the Honda to roll on top of the Oldsmobile.

•    Both vehicles immediately burst into flames and were totally engulfed with the drivers trapped inside.

•    Both drivers died at the scene.

•    Police believe alcohol may have been a factor in the accident.

The fatal car accident occurred at around 11:10 p.m., at the I-5/I-505 off-ramp near Dunnigan, according to a report in the Woodland Daily Democrat.

California Highway Patrol officer Bryan Konvalin said the accident involved two vehicles that burst into flames when one of them rolled on top of the other.

Konvalin told the Daily Democrat that the CHP had received a call about a “hazardous vehicle” that was stopped in the northbound No. 1 lane.

That vehicle — later was identified as a  1998 Oldsmobile Achieva driven by 40-year-old Jorge Mora Arias of Woodland – had its lights off and was possibly facing the wrong way.

CHP officers were responding to the scene when a second vehicle — a 1992 Honda Accord driven by a 34-year-old woman from Willows — crashed into the Oldsmobile and was thrown on top of it.

Both vehicles immediately burst into flames with the drivers trapped inside. Firefighters battled the blaze, but could not get to the vehicles to rescue the trapped drivers.

Both drivers died at the scene. Police withheld the name of the Willows woman pending notification of her next of kin.

Police are investigating the accident, but said they believe alcohol may have been a factor.

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 family of an innocent victim who also died in the accident 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 family of the innocent victim can force an estate to be set up to handle the lawsuit.

Woodland Freeway 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.

One person was killed and four injured in a head-on freeway accident on U.S. 101 in San Rafael. (Photo: AAA)

Freeway accident: One person was killed and four others injured Saturday afternoon in a head-on collision on Highway 101 in San Rafael.

•    A man in a Toyota SUV lost control of his vehicle on the freeway and crashed into the center divider.

•    The SUV flipped over onto the oncoming traffic side of the freeway and landed on top of a Honda Pilot.

•    The Toyota driver died.

•    All four people in the Honda were taken to a hospital to be treated for minor to moderate injuries.

The fatal car accident occurred shortly after 3 p.m. near the Central San Rafael exit, according to a report in the Marin Independent-Journal.

California Highway Patrol Officer Patrick Roth said a 64-year-old Novato man was driving a 1992 Toyota 4-Runner northbound on Highway 101 when he lost control of his vehicle just past the Central San Rafael exit.

The sports utility vehicle crashed into the center barrier and then flipped over into the southbound lanes, Roth said. The airborne Toyota SUV crash-landed on top of an oncoming 2010 Honda Pilot driven by 46-year-old Windsor resident Waleed Abdel.

The driver of the Toyota, whose name was not released pending notification of next of kin, sustained critical injuries and was taken to Marin General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

All four occupants of the Honda were injured and taken to Marin General Hospital. Abdel and an 11-year-old boy suffered moderate injuries, according to the CHP. A 30-year-old woman and a 6-year-old girl reportedly suffered minor injuries.

Ask the lawyer: 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 Rafael Freeway 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 Marine was killed in a crash with a wrong-way driver on Interstate 15 in San Diego.

An active-duty U.S. Marine was killed in a motorcycle accident Wednesday when he crashed into a wrong-way driver’s wrecked car on Interstate 15 in Escondido.

•    A 63-year-old man drive a Ford Escort the wrong way on the freeway and crashed into a pickup truck.

•    The Escort crashed into a concrete railing and flipped over before hitting a Kia Optima and coming to rest in the traffic lanes. 

•    Just then, a motorcyclist approached the scene and could not stop in time to avoid crashing into the wrecked Escort.

•    The motorcylist, who was an active-duty U.S. Marine, ws thrown off of his Harley and died on the way to the hospital.

The fatal freeway crash occurred shortly after 6:30 a.m., according to a report in the North County Times.

California Highway Patrol Officer Jim Bettencourt said several motorists reported a wrong-way driver in a Ford Escort traveling north on the southbound side of Interstate 15 at that time.

The Escort sideswiped a Ford F-150 pickup truck, stopped briefly in the center divide between the northbound and southbound lanes, and then continued driving in the wrong direction, Bettencourt said.

When the Escort crashed into a concrete railing on the Gopher Canyon Road overpass, the vehicle rolled over and landed in the middle of the traffic lanes, where it struck a Kia Optima, according to the CHP officer.

Just as the wrecked Escort came to rest, a motorcylist — later identified as 29-year-old Brent V. Durrant of Fallbrook — approached on a Harley Davidson and could not avoid crashing into the Escort.

Durrant, an active-duty U.S. Marine, was thrown off of his motorcycle and died en route to the hospital. No

The Escort driver, 63-year-old Robert Sidney Bowman of Valley Center, sustained unknown injuries and was taken to a hospital to be treated.

No other injuries were reported.

CHP investigators did not yet know if drugs, alcohol or a medical emergency may have played a role in the crash.  Toxicology reports were pending, Bettencourt said.

Escondido Freeway Accident Lawyers

The trial attorneys at Blackman Legal Group, a California-based law firm founded by renowned trial attorney Clifford Blackman, have successfully represented freeway 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 man was killed after his Smart Car was hit twice on Interstate 210 in Claremont.

Fatal freeway accident: An Upland man was killed Wednesday after his Smart Car was struck first by a drunk driver and then by another vehicle on the I-210 freeway in Claremont.

•   A drunk driver in an Infiniti hit a Smart Car on the freeway. The Smart Car was disabled in the fast lane without working lights.

•   A few moments later, a Toyota crashed into the disabled vehicle from behind; the Smart Car driver died at the scene.

•   The Infiniti driver was arrested for drunk driving.

The tragic car accident occurred shortly before 2:45 a.m., according to a report in the Upland Daily Bulletin.

California Highway Patrol Officer Anthony Martin said 62-year-old Upland resident Antonio Sanchez was driving a Smart Car eastbound on I-210 when he was struck by a 2003 Infiniti G35.

The driver of the Infinity, 50-year-old Sterling Cross, also of Upland, was driving under the influence of alcohol. He managed to get his vehicle over to the shoulder after the accident.

The Smart Car was disabled by the accident, however, and was stuck in the fast lane without working lights. Shortly thereafter, a 1996 Toyota Camry crashed into the disabled vehicle.

Sanchez died at the scene, coroner’s Assistant Chief Ed Winter told the Claremont-LaVerne Patch news site.  The driver of the Camry, 55-year- old James Laurence of Fontana, suffered moderate injuries and was taken to a hospital for treatment.

The CHP officer at the scene notice that Cross appeared to be under the influence of alcohol, so he administered a field sobriety test. Cross was then arrested on drunken driving charges and was booked into the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Claremont Freeway 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.

Three people died in a freeway accident when a driver swerved to avoid being hit by a big-rig on I-5 near Coalinga.

Freeway accident: Three people were killed Saturday when a driver swerved to avoid being hit by a big-rig and was struck by an oncoming vehicle on Interstate 5 near Coalinga.

•   A big-rig started to merge into an occupied lane on I-5 and the driver of the SUV in that lane had to suddenly swerve to avoid being hit by the truck.

•   The SUV went out of control, crossed into oncoming traffic, and was slammed by an oncoming vehicle. 

•   The SUV driver, an adult passenger, and a 12-year-old passenger died at the scene. Two other children in the SUV were injured.

•   The big-rig did not stop. 

The fatal car accident occurred at about 7:40 a.m., according to a report in the Fresno Bee.

The California Highway Patrol said 38-year-old Perris resident Aida Perez was driving a Chevy Suburban northbound on the freeway at about 70 mph when a big-rig turned on his left turn signal and began to merge into her path.

Perez swerved to avoid being hit by the big-rig and lost control of her vehicle. The Suburban veered into the southbound lanes, where it was struck by an oncoming Toyota 4Runner.

Perez died at the scene, as did two of her passengers: 44-year-old Jose Perez and a 12-year-old girl, according to the Coroner’s Office.

Two other passengers — a 10-year-old boy and a 14-year-old boy — were seriously injured in the crash.

The big-rig driver did not stop. The CHP is urging anyone with information about the big-rig or its driver to call Officer Ken Antonetti at (559) 935-2093.

Coalinga Freeway Accident Lawyers

The trial attorneys at Blackman Legal Group, a California-based law firm founded by renowned trial attorney Clifford Blackman, have successfully represented freeway 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 dworng-way drunk driver caused a fatal crash on I-710 in Long Beach. (Photo: KABC)

A 27-year-old woman was killed in a car accident Friday night when a drunk driver drove the wrong way and caused a multi-car collision on the 710 freeway in Long Beach.

•   A drunk driver drove onto the freeway in the wrong direction and crashed into two oncoming vehicles.

•   The driver of one of the struck vehicles died at the scene. Two other victims were hospitalized with major injuries.

•   The drunk driver tried to run away on foot, but witnesses chased him down and held him until police arrived.

•   The drunk driver was arrested for driving under the influence, gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, and hit and run causing death or injury.

The fatal DUI crash occurred north of Anaheim Street at about 10 p.m., according to an ABC News report.

Long Beach police said 33-year-old Derrick Armstrong of Buena Park drove a white 1997 Chevy Tahoe up the the Broadway Avenue off-ramp and onto the southbound lanes of the freeway — traveling northbound — according to the LA Daily News.

Continuing to drive the wrong way on the freeway, Armstrong’s vehicle struck two oncoming cars: a gray 1987 Honda Accord and a white 2010 Toyota Corolla.

A passenger in the Honda,  27 year-old Tricia Esmond Cade, died at the scene.

The driver of the Honda, a 26-year-old Long Beach woman, was pinned in the vehicle and had to be extricated  by the Long Beach Fire Department. She suffered major injuries and was transported to a local hospital.

The driver of the Toyota, a 26-year-old man from Long Beach, also was seriously injured and taken to a local hospital. His injuries were not life-threatening, police said.

Witnesses said Armstrong got out of his car and attempted to flee the scene on foot, but they ran after him and detained him until police arrived. Armstrong was arrested for driving under the influence, gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, and hit and run causing death or injury. He was booked into the Long Beach City Jail where he was being held in lieu of $100,000 bail.

Long Beach 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.

Three people died when a Jeep was rear-ended and rolled off of Highway 101 in San Jose.

Fatal freeway crash: Three people were killed early Saturday morning when a motorist rear-ended a Jeep that was parked on the shoulder of  101 in San Jose. The Jeep rolled over and tumbled down an embankment.

•    A Jeep was parked on the shoulder of the 101 freeway when it was struck from behind by a Honda sedan traveling at 65 mph.

•    The violent impact caused the Jeep to roll over and tumble down an embankment.

•    The driver of the Jeep and two of his passengers died. The third passenger suffered minor injuries.

•    The driver of the Honda also sustained minor injuries.

The deadly car accident occurred at 12:46 a.m., according to a report in the San Francisco Chronicle.

California Highway Patrol investigators said a 1996 Jeep was parked on the right shoulder of the southbound U.S. 101 freeway, just north of the Blossom Hill Road off-ramp, right before the collision.

There were four people in the Jeep. Authorities did not yet know whether the vehicle was disabled or if there was some other reason it was parked on the shoulder.

The Jeep was struck from behind by a 1994 Honda traveling southbound on the freeway at about 65 mph, the CHP reported. The impact caused the Jeep to roll over and tumble down an embankment.

The Jeep driver, a 58-year-old man from Carmel, died at the scene.

All three of the Jeep’s passengers were taken to an area hospital to be treated for injuries. Two of them – a 63-year-old man and a 54-year-old woman, both from Los Angeles — died at the hospital from injuries they sustained in the accident. The third passenger, a 55-year-old woman from Carmel, suffered minor injuries and was treated at the hospital.

The Honda driver, a 28-year-old woman from San Jose, also suffered minor injuries and was treated at a hospital.

Authorities did not release the names of the victims.

San Jose Freeway 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.