California Injury Blog
A 59-year-old man was killed in a Hesperia car accident, which officials say, occurred when a 14-year-old boy driving an SUV ran a stop sign and collided with two other cars.
According to a report in the San Bernardino Sun, the tragic crash occurred on the morning of July 22 at the intersection of Choiceana Avenue and Yucca Street.
Ongoing Investigation
Police say the boy was driving a 2008 Chevy Tahoe west on Yucca when he failed to stop at the stop sign. He was broadsided by a 2008 Honda Civic driven by a 55-year-old man headed north on Choiceana and a 2020 Kia Sportage traveling south on that same street.
The driver of the Kia succumbed to his injuries and was later identified as Craig Sale, 59. Police said no information was available about why the underage boy was driving or whether his parents are being investigated. Under California law, a person must be at least 16 years old to get a driver’s license. The investigation is ongoing.
We offer our deepest condolences to the family members of Craig Sale for their tragic and heartbreaking loss. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
Laws and Liability Issues
Based on this news report, it appears that the SUV that caused this tragic collision was being driven by a 14-year-old boy, who was apparently unlicensed and shouldn’t have been driving. We trust officials are looking into the circumstances that led to this horrific accident. Police also said the collision at the street intersection occurred because the teen failed to stop at the stop sign.
California law requires drivers to come to a complete stop at a stop sign and proceed with caution. According to California Vehicle Code section 21802 (a): “The driver of any vehicle approaching a stop sign at the entrance to, or within, an intersection shall stop as required by Section 22450. The driver shall then yield the right-of-way to any vehicles which have approached from another highway, or which are approaching so closely as to constitute an immediate hazard, and shall continue to yield the right-of-way to those vehicles until he or she can proceed with reasonable safety.”
In this case, the parents or guardians of the boy could potentially be held liable for the victim’s wrongful death. Families of deceased victims could file a wrongful death lawsuit seeking compensation for damages including medical expenses, funeral costs, lost future income, pain and suffering, and loss of love, care, and companionship. An experienced San Bernardino car accident lawyer will be able to advise victims and their families regarding their legal rights and options.
Source: https://www.sbsun.com/2021/07/23/boy-14-driving-suv-runs-stop-sign-before-fatal-collision-in-hesperia-officials-say/