California Injury Lawyer Blog

RIVERSIDE COUNTY - An 84-year-old Murrieta man tragically died Wednesday night, about 40 minutes after the Lincoln sedan he was driving was struck head-on by a pickup truck on Clinton Keith Road, the Southwest Riverside News Network reported. The accident was reported at 8:53 p.m. on July 6, 2011, on Clinton Keith Road near Chantory Street and the Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve. According to news reports, the victim, Richard Johnson, was driving on Clinton Keith Road when the driver of a pickup truck crossed into oncoming traffic and collided with his vehicle. Johnson was rushed to an area hospital, where he died shortly after 9:30 p.m.. The 44-year-old man driving the pickup truck was critically injured in the crash and was taken to a local hospital for treatment.

Cause of the Fatal Accident

The cause of the fatal head-on collision remains under investigation. Anyone with information about the accident may call Sgt. Jim Gruwell at 951-461-6389 or Officer Kurt Stickelman at 951-461-6306. Based on the news reports, it appears that there was nothing Johnson could have done to avoid the collision. It is unclear why the driver of the pickup truck veered into oncoming traffic. The Murrieta Patch reported investigators with the Murrieta Police Department have ordered toxicology tests on the driver, as they suspect alcohol could have been a factor in the accident.

Fatal Car Accident Wrongful Death Liability

If news reports detailing this accident are accurate, Richard Johnson was not at-fault for July 6th accident that took his life. While this accident remains under investigation, the family of the victim would likely benefit from speaking to an experienced and knowledgeable California wrongful death lawyer. An attorney who understands the legal issues of head-on collision accidents can advise the victim's family of their legal rights and options, should they wish to pursue a wrongful death claim against the driver, or whoever is determined to be responsible for this accident.