California Injury Lawyer Blog

LAKE COUNTY - The Santa Rosa Press Democrat reported a 60-year-old Santa Rosa man tragically died at the scene of a head-on crash Saturday afternoon on Highway 29 in Lake County. The fatal accident was reported at 12:03 p.m., just north of the Napa County - Lake County line.

According to Highway Patrol reports, Albert Koran Jr, was driving a 2005 Toyota southbound on Highway 29, and Keith Cronin, 70 of Middleton, was driving a 2006 Chevy pickup truck northbound.

For reasons still under investigation, Cronin reportedly crossed double yellow lanes and headed northbound in the southbound lane, and struck Koran's Toyota head-on. The impact of the collision trapped Koran inside his vehicle. Passing motorists and his wife and son attempted cardiopulmonary resuscitation until firefighters arrived at the scene of the crash.

According to the Press Democrat, Cronin suffered a collapsed lung and broken pelvis. He was flown to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital where he was reportedly in serious condition. Koran's wife and son suffered minor injuries. Two passengers in the Chevy pickup truck also sustained minor injuries.

The cause of the head-on collision Lake County car accident is under investigation by the California Highway Patrol.

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The CHP is investigating a head-on collision Tuesday morning in Lake County that left two women with serious injuries. The two-vehicle crash occurred shortly after 10 a.m. on Highway 29 north of Butts Canyon Road. According to reports in the Lake County News, 18-year-old Brittany Franklin of Clearlake was driving a 2008 Chevrolet pickup northbound on Highway 29, when for unknown reasons, her vehicle drifted to the right and began to leave the roadway. Franklin then apparently overcorrected back onto the roadway and veered into southbound traffic. Franklin's vehicle collided head-on with a 2004 Nissan truck driven by Suzanne Wallahan, 43, of Middleton. Wallahan's Nissan traveled down a dirt embankment, and Franklin's Chevy stopped in the middle of the highway, blocking both lanes of traffic. Both Franklin and Wallahan were airlifted to UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento.

We hope both of the women hurt in this crash were not gravely injured, and wish them both the best for a full and fast recovery. Please keep them in your prayers.

Cause of the Highway 29 Head-on Collision

The California Highway Patrol is investigating the cause of the August 17th Lake County crash. Authorities have reportedly ruled out drugs or alcohol as a contributing factor. Based on the limited information provided in news reports, it is not clear why Franklin lost control of her vehicle. Was she speeding or driving recklessly, or did something malfunction mechanically with her truck? The CHP is undoubtedly investigating these and all other potential causes of the crash.

Car Accidents and Personal Injury Liability

If it is determined that the driver of the Chevrolet is in fact responsible for this crash, she may be liable for the injuries of the driver of the Nissan. In situations such as this one, where another driver may be responsible for an accident causing serious injury to another, the injured victim or their family would be well-advised to consult with an experienced and knowledgeable California personal injury lawyer about the unique legal issues involved and their rights to consultation. A skilled car accident attorney can help the injured victims seek compensation for medical care expenses, lost earnings and wages, pain and suffering, and other expenses related to the accident.

Continue reading "Head-on Collision Injures Two on Highway 29 in Lake County" »

Four people, including a 12-year-old boy, were airlifted to hospitals after a head-on collision on Highway 53 Wednesday morning in Lake County, the Lake County Record Bee reported. Stephen Phipps, 46, of Clearlake, was driving a 2002 Ford Ranger pickup truck northbound on Highway 53 near Anderson Ranch Parkway, when he crossed over the center turn lane and into southbound traffic, directly in the path of a 2000 Oldsmobile van driven by Luisa Enriquez, 43, of Clearlake. The June 2nd collision occurred at about 7:40 a.m., and the vehicles came to a rest blocking one of the southbound lanes.

Luisa Enriquez was flown by a REACH air ambulance to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital with broken bones in her legs. A 12-year-old boy in her vehicle was taken by ambulance to St. Helena Hospital and then flown to Oakland Children's Hospital with fractured bones in his leg, arm and face.

Phipps was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of a controlled substance. He was blown by REACH to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital with internal injuries. A passenger in his pickup truck was also flown to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital with internal injuries. According to the CHP, all parties were wearing their seat belts and airbags deployed in both vehicles.

Continue reading "Four Airlifted After Lake County Crash; Clearlake Man Arrested " »

An 85-year-old Rodeo woman died following a two-vehicle collision on Highway 29 over Memorial Day weekend, the Santa Rosa Press Democrat reported. According to news reports, Helen R. Valentine, 85, was a passenger in a 2001 Toyota Corolla driven by Angelo Accurso, 85, of Hidden Valley Lake.

While attempting a turn from westbound Hartmann Road onto Highway 29, Accurso's Corolla was struck by a southbound 1998 Ford Windstar van driven by Vidal Montanez, 51, of Clearlake. The crash occurred at around 8:30 a.m. May 29th. Montanez was not injured in the collision. Both Valentine and Accurso were flown by helicopter to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital. Valentine died of her injuries; Accurso suffered a broken hip. The cause of the collision is still under investigation by the California Highway Patrol.

Highway 29 Accidents

Last August, two people died in an accident on Highway 29 at Spruce Grove Road, about two miles away from the location of the May 29th accident. In January of this year, a 82-year-old pedestrian was struck and killed on Highway 29/Highway 128 in Napa County.

Continue reading "Elderly Woman Dies Following Weekend Crash in Lake County " »

A 65-year-old Indiana woman was killed and six other people were injured, including two children in a crash on Highway 20 Friday afternoon. The April 9th crash involved a 2005 Dodge Caravan and a 2001 Ford Escape. According to reports in the Ukiah Daily Journal, Maria Prado, 47, of Clearlake was heading west in the Doge Caravan, west of Bartlett Springs Road, near Nice. Sarah Noguera, 33, of Ukiah, was driving the Ford Escape eastbound on Highway 20.

For unknown reasons, Prado's Caravan drifted off the roadway, up an embankment, and then back on the roadway and into the eastbound lane, hitting the Ford Escape head-on. The crash occurred near the Tulip Hill Winerl. Sandra Thomas, 65, of Noblesville, Indiana, who was riding in the backseat between a 4-year-old boy and a 5-year-old girl, died at the scene of the crash.

The 4-year-old boy was flown to Oakland Children's Hospital, and the 5-year-old girl was taken to Sutter Lakeside Hospital in Lakeport. Sarah Noguera, the childrens' mother and the front-seat passenger, James Thomas, 64, her father, both were flown to Santa Rosa Hospital with major injuries. Adonis Noguera, who was sitting in the cargo compartment of the SUV, suffered moderate injuries. Officers do not believe alcohol was a factor in the crash, but a CHP officer drove Maria Prado to St. Helena Clearlake Hospital as a precaution for minor injuries and to give a voluntary blood alcohol sample.

According to reports in the Lake County News, Jane Thomas and her husband were being driven to the Sacramento airport by their daughter when the crash occurred outside of Nice.

Fault & Liability Issues

If news reports of this accident are accurate, the driver of the Dodge Caravan likely caused this accident by allowing her westbound vehicle to drift into eastbound lanes. The CHP is investigating how fast the vehicles were travelling; it is not clear if either were speeding. While this Lake County accident remains under investigation, the families of all of the victims in the Ford Escape would be well-advised to consult with a California injury lawyer familiar with head-on collision crash liability and particularly, Highway 20 accidents. An attorney can help the injured victims protect their rights and hold the at-fault party financially responsible for their medical expenses, lost earnings, emotional pain and suffering, and the wrongful death of their loved one.

Continue reading "Indiana Woman Killed in Highway 20 Crash; Six Others Injured" »