California Injury Lawyer Blog

A 36-year-old Victorville woman died Monday in a crash on Highway 395 in San Bernardino County, the Victorville Daily Press said. The victim, Patricia Rodriguez, was a passenger in a 2003 GMC Yukon travelling south on Highway 395. According to news reports, at about 12:12 p.m., about two miles south of Bear Valley Road, the driver of the Yukon, Sergio Rodriguez, swerved to avoid rear-ending a slow-moving Chrysler PT Cruiser and apparently overcorrected. The SUV overturned several times and came to rest on its roof.

The San Bernardino Sun reported paramedics pronounced Rodriguez dead at the scene of the accident at 12:23 p.m. Other occupants of the SUV, including several children, were taken to local hospitals with moderate to major injuries. It was unclear how many people were in the SUV; the San Bernardino Sun reported there were eight or nine occupants in the vehicle.

This tragic fatal accident occurred in one of the most dangerous stretches of highway in the United States, the stretch of Highway 395 from Interstate 15 to Adelanto. Just this year, 10 people have died in this stretch of Hwy 395 in head-on collisions, SUV rollover accidents and other serious accident. In 2009, there were six deaths in this stretch of road. The Victorville Daily Press reported that skid marks from this September 6th accident intersected with an accident in April that killed a 27-year-old man.

Highway 395 Accidents & Personal Injury Liability

The San Bernardino Sheriff's Department is investigating the fatal SUV rollover accident. While the cause of the San Bernardino County accident remains under investigation, the family members of the victims of this crash may benefit from speaking to an SUV rollover lawyer about this Highway 395 crash and the unique liability issues involved. If negligence, a mechanical defect in the vehicle or a dangerous road condition was a factor in this crash, a skilled and knowledgeable attorney can help the victims recover the compensation they may be entitled to for their injuries or loved one's wrongful death. In cases such as this one, the injured passengers may be entitled to compensation for their medical treatment expenses, rehabilitation, lost earnings (if applicable) and pain and suffering.

Continue reading "Victorville Woman Killed, Others Injured in Highway 395 Rollover Crash " »

At least six people tragically died Monday night in a fiery crash on Highway 395, the LA Times reported. The August 9th crash occurred about five miles south of Bishop shortly after 8 p.m. According to CHP reports, the driver of a soutbhound SUV lost control, drifted off the shoulder and then travelled into the center median. The SUV then collided with a large van carrying athletes from California Baptist University in Riverside.

The SUV was believed to be carrying athletes from a San Diego area cross country team. The injured victims included Drew Constantine Delis, 22, of Encinitas, who was taken to San Joaquin Community Hospital in Bakersfield with major injuries. Derek Randal Thomas, 19, also of Encinitas, was flown to West Hills Hospital with major injuries.

Wendry Rice, 35, of Corona, the driver of the van died at the scene. She was apparently transporting students from California Baptist University in Riverside to a high-altitude training camp in Mammoth.

According to the LA Times, eleven student athletes from Cal Baptist were taken to area hospitals with minor to serious injuries: Alyssa Neimeyer, 19, of Temecula; David Solis, 19, of Corona; Brenda Perez, 20, of Riverside; Alicia Catanese, 21, of Corona; Jennifer McGuire, 17, of Stevenson Ranch; Kayla M. Beaudoin, 19, of Corona; Miguel Angel Gonzalez, 18, of Hacienda Heights; Marissa Benson, 18, of Gresham, Ore.; Jonathan Monteon, 18, of Chino; Jonathan Hernandez, 18, of Moreno Valley; and Hanna Ingulsrud, 19, of Ontario.

Our sincerest condolences go out to everyone who has lost a friend or family member in this horrific collision that will surely never be forgotten. We hope all of the injured victims make a full recovery.

Cause of the Highway 395 Crash

The CHP is investigating the cause of the accident. It appears that the driver of the southbound SUV lost control, but it is unclear why. Based on the limited information available in news reports, there are more questions than answers at this point. According to the California Highway Patrol, the accident took place on a part of Highway 395 that had four lanes and a center divider. Investigators are looking at skid marks and other evidence to determine the speeds of each of the vehicles involved.

Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Liability

Highway accidents such as this one have very unique and often very complex legal issues. Determining liability and fault will be challenging to say the least. Investigators will look at not just the actions of the driver of the SUV, but the condition and maintenance of all vehicles and even the condition of the roadway where the crash occurred. If this crash was caused by a defect in the sport utility vehicle, the manufacturer of the SUV could be liable for all victims' deaths and injuries. While this accident remains under investigation, the family members of the victims of this crash would be well-advised to consult with an experienced and knowledgeable California personal injury attorney who has represented victims of Highway 395 accidents. A skilled lawyer can help the victims' families understand and protect their legal rights, and advise them of their best course of action handling communications with the insurance companies.

Continue reading "6 People Killed, 12 Injured in Hwy 395 Crash near Bishop " »

A 30-year-old Bakersfield woman died following a horrific head-on collision on Highway 395 Monday afternoon in Hesperia, the San Bernardino Sun reported. The June 7th collision was reported on Highway 395 at Eucalyptus Street at about 4:55 p.m. According to news reports, Cynthia Guerra was driving a 2004 Nissan Quest minivan on Hwy 395 when a 2005 Chevy Silverado truck drifted into her lane and struck her vehicle head-on. Guerra was flown to Desert Valley Hospital in Victorville, where she died of her injuries. The San Bernardino Sheriff's Department is investigating the cause of the accident

The Victorville Daily Press reported that five vehicles, including a tractor trailer were involved in the collision. Further information about the other vehicles involved was not available. Five ground ambulances and four helicopters responded to the accident. Along with the one fatality, three people suffered critical injuries and three others suffered moderate injuries. The victims were taken to Arrowhead Regional Center and Loma Linda University Medical Center, fire officials said.

Continue reading "Bakersfield Woman Killed, Six Others Injured in Head-on Crash on Highway 395 in Hesperia " »

At least one person suffered major injuries early Wednesday morning in a head-on collision on Highway 395, San Bernardino County Sheriff's officials reported. According to reports in the Victorville Daily Press, a Ford pickup truck travelling southbound on Hwy 395 crossed into northbound lanes and collided head-on with a northbound Lincoln Town car. The accident occurred around 5 a.m. in the three mile straight stretch of U.S. 395 between Bear Valley Road and Main Street.

The driver of another vehicle, a Kia, swerved to avoid the wreckage of the head-on collision and crashed into a guardrail and fence. The Kia was reportedly suspended precariously over the California Aqueduct by three strands of barbed wire. The Victorville Daily Press reported that the driver of the Lincoln suffered major injuries. The extent of the injuries to the driver of the Ford and the driver of the Kia was not clear.

Highway 395 Accidents in San Bernardino County

Exactly one month ago, on April 26, 2010, a 25-year-old Ridgecrest man was killed in a head on crash on Highway 395 between Main Street and Bear Valley Road, on the same stretch of road were this May 26th accident happened. On April 5th of last month, two people were injured in a head-on crash on Highway 395 near Bear Valley Road. This stretch of Hwy 395 in San Bernardino County is sometimes called "blood alley," due to the number of fatal collisions that occur in the region. NBC's "Dateline" has called the 44-mile section of Highway 395 from Hesperia to State Route 58 as one of the most dangerous roads in the country.

Continue reading "Three People Injured in Head-On Crash on Highway 395 " »

Three people critically injured in a head-on crash Saturday night in Adelanto died Sunday at area hospitals, the San Bernardino Sun reported. The head-on collision was reported at 11:34 p.m. Saturday night on Highway 395, north of Rancho Road.

According to reports, Brandon Vinson, 34, of Hesperia, was travelling south in a 1995 Chevy on Highway 395 when he veered into a 2003 Hyundai SUV driven by Denise Jackson 42, of Victorville. Both Vinson, Jackson, and another passenger in the Hyundai, Patrice Spead, 20, also of Victorville were ejected from the vehicles. Vinson died at St. Mary Medical Center in Apple Valley shortly before 1 a.m. Jackson died shortly before 9 a.m. at Loma Linda University Medical Center in Loma Linda, and Spead died just after 10:30 a.m. at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton.

Inland Empire Accidents

The weekend was a rough one for traffic accidents the Inland Empire. A total of eight people died in traffic accidents. In addition to the three killed in this Adelanto accident, a bicyclist was struck and killed in San Bernardino, a Rialto man died in a crash with a big rig on Interstate 10, a 45-year-old Moreno Valley man was killed when his semi-truck went off of Interstate 15 in Riverside County, a motorist was killed in a crash with a light pole in Corona, and a driver died in a pickup truck died in a crash in Desert Hot Springs. The previous weekend, nine people were killed in accidents in the Inland Empire.

Highway 395 Accidents

Between 2003 and 2005, 28 people died in accidents on Highway 395 in San Bernardino County. NBC's "Dateline" has called Highway 395 one of the most dangerous roadways in the country. Head-on collisions such as this most recent February 20th crash on Hwy 395 often cause multiple fatalitiles. The 44-mile section for Hesperia to State Route 58, which travels through Adelanto, where the accident occurred, is perhaps the most dangerous part of Highway 395.

Continue reading "Three Killed in Head-On Crash on Highway 395 in San Bernardino County " »

One person was killed and three people were injured in an unsafe passing accident on Highway 395 near Barstow. At about 8:15 p.m. Friday, Maureen Fisher, 50, of San Diego was driving northbound on Highway 395 near mile post marker 61 in Rural Helendale. An SUV passed her 2005 Honda Odyssey on the left.

Meanwhile, Justin Chang, 23, of Hacienda Heights was driving southbound. He swerved off the highway to avoid the oncoming SUV and then into the northbound lane of Highway 395. His 2007 Toyota Scion was then broadsided by Fisher's Honda Odyssey. The SUV that caused the collision was not struck, and did not stop at the scene. Justin Chang died at the scene of the crash. Fisher, and her two passengers, an 18-year-old and a 14-year-old, were all injured and taken to nearby hospitals. The California Highway Patrol is investigating this multi-vehicle accident.

Not stopping at the scene of an accident that you were a party to is against the law. Under the California Vehicle Code § 20001, "The driver of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to a person, other than himself or herself, or in the death of a person shall immediately stop the vehicle at the scene of the accident." It does not matter that the driver of the SUV did not physically collide with either of the two vehicles. He or she had a responsibility to stop at the scene. This driver could be facing hit and run and even possibly vehicular manslaughter charges. He or she is urged to contact law enforcement officials as soon as possible.

Continue reading "One Killed, Three Injured in Hwy 395 Crash January 15 Near Barstow " »