Ralph Mongenel. 61, of Santa Ana, was killed in an Anaheim motorcycle accident on December 6 2008, The Orange County Register reports. Mongenel was riding south on Brookhurst Street under the 91 Freeway in Anaheim when he hit the center divider at the south side of the intersection. He was apparently trying to enter the freeway when he hit the divider. Mongenel was taken to an area hospital where he died shortly after.
I offer my deepest condolences to the family of Ralph Mongenel for their tragic loss. Please keep them in your prayers.
According to the California Highway Patrol’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Reporting System, there were seven motorcycle accident related deaths in Anaheim in 2006 and 97 motorcycle accident related injuries during that period. In Orange County as a whole, 26 fatalities and 730 injuries were reported as a result of motorcycle accidents in 2006.
This newspaper report does not provide a whole lot of detail about the exact cause of this accident. I trust Anaheim police traffic investigators will reveal the details of the investigation in a few weeks. This accident could have been caused by a variety of factors. The newspaper report does not mention that this was Mongenel’s fault. He was apparently not speeding and there seems to be no evidence that he was operating his motorcycle under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
This fatal motorcycle accident may have been caused because of a mechanical malfunction or an auto product defect. Ralph Mongenel’s family would be well-advised to retain the services of an experienced Orange County motorcycle accident attorney. A skilled motorcycle defect attorney will be able to use their experts and resources to examine the crashed vehicle for mechanical problems, product defects (both manufacturing and design defects) and other evidence. A knowledgeable Orange County personal injury lawyer will also look into whether there was a dangerous condition or hazard on the roadway, which caused Mongenel to lose control of his motorcycle.