Red Bluff Girl Critically Injured in Tehama County Crash
RED BLUFF -- A 6-year-old Red Bluff girl suffered major injuries in a four-vehicle crash Saturday afternoon in Tehama County, the Record-Searchlight reported. The accident was reported at 12:45 p.m. on April 2, 2011, on Highway 99E just south of Patterson Road. The young girl was a passenger in a 1999 Subuaru driven northbound on Highway 99E by Jerod Gilbert, 24, of Red Bluff. When Gilbert slowed the vehicle to make a left turn onto Patterson road, he was rear-ended by a 1999 Ford driven by Pablo Vasquez, 31, of Gerber. The impact of the rear-end collision caused Gilbert's vehicle to spin into southbound traffic where it was struck by a car driven by John Koga, 19, of Palo Cedro. A 29-year-old Paradise woman, Kristen Horst, was able to avoid the collision, but lost control of her 2010 Subaru and ended up in a grassy field.
Jerod Gilbert, Pablo Vasquez, and Kristen Horst were reportedly not injured in the crash. John Koga suffered minor injuries, as did a passenger in Gilbert's Subaru, Rikki Ramey, 25. A six-year-old girl in Gilbert's Subaru was critically injured and taken to Enloe Medical Center in Chico, and later transferred to UC Davis Medical Center.
The California Highway Patrol is investigating this incident. Based on the news reports, it appears the driver of the Ford who rear-ended Gilbert's vehicle may be responsible for this collision. The CHP surely will look at the speed of all vehicles, possible negligence such as texting and driving or driving under the influence in determining what happened, and who was responsible.
If the driver of the Ford is determined to be at fault here, he may be liable for the injuries the little girl in the Subaru suffered. When negligence or reckless driving cause accidents that result in serious injury to a child, the parents of the victim would be well-advised to seek a consultation with a knowledgeable California car accident lawyer. A skilled attorney can help the family protect their legal rights to hold the negligent parties fully accountable for medical expenses and pain and suffering the family endured as a result of this accident.
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