Two Riverside County residents were killed Tuesday morning in a horrific head-on crash on the Ramona Expressway near San Jacinto, the Riverside County Sheriff/Coroner reported. According to the San Bernardino Press-Enterprise,the May 4, 2010 accident occurred about 1,500 feet east of Bridge Street. The Nuevo crash occurred at about 5:50 a.m., and involved a 2000 Chevrolet S-10 pickup going east on the expressway, and a 2001 Toyota Corolla travelling west. Both vehicles were estimated to be travelling around 55 mph.
The victims were identified as John Wilson, 43, of Hemet, and Tiffany Autrey, 31, of Perris. Wilson was driving Toyota sedan and Autrey was driving the Chevy pickup truck. Authorities believe that Autrey's pickup truck crossed over double yellow lines into westbound traffic, striking Wilson's vehicle head-on. Both drivers were wearing their seatbelts and were not ejected. They both died at the scene of the crash.
Cause of the Crash
The cause of this devastating double-fatal accident remains under investigation by the California Highway Patrol. However, if news reports are accurate, John Wilson was not at fault for this accident. It is not clear why Autrey lost control of her vehicle. The CHP will investigate whether she was distracted or driving negligently, or if something outside of her control caused the crash, such as a dangerous roadway condition of mechanical failure in her vehicle. Hopefully the investigation by the CHP will determine exactly what happened, for the sake of both families.
Wrongful-Death Liability Issues
While this crash is under investigation, the family of John Wilson may benefit from speaking to an experienced California wrongful death attorney. In cases like this, the families of the deceased victim may be entitled to compensation for their sudden and unexpected loss in a wrongful death claim. When another party's negligence is determined to be the cause of a crash, whether that is a reckless driver, dangerous roadway condition, or vehicle defect, the family of the victim may be entitled to monetary damages, including money for funeral expenses, loss of future earnings and support, and loss of love and companionship. An experienced attorney can explain the family's legal rights, options and responsibilities and best course of action should they wish to pursue a claim.
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