Teresa Davis, 46, was killed in a Long Beach car crash after the vehicle in which she was a passenger veered out of control and collided with a pole. The Press-Telegram reports that the fatal car crash occurred early morning on March 10, 2013 at the intersection of Long Beach Boulevard and 56th Street in North Long Beach. Police say Davis was the only passenger in a 2012 Ford Fusion that was driven by 39-year-old Darrell Childs.
The car was going south on Long Beach Boulevard when, for an unknown reason, the car veered onto the west parkway, hit a light pole and then struck a traffic signal pole. Davis died at the scene and Childs was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The cause of this fatal crash is still under investigation. Anyone with information about this crash is asked to contact Long Beach police at 562-570-7355.
Car Crash Statistics
There were 27 fatalities and 1,877 injuries reported as a result of car accidents in Long Beach, according to California Highway Patrol’s 2010 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS). In Los Angeles County as a whole, 530 people died and 50,513 were injured as a result of car crashes during the same year.
What Caused This Crash?
Based on this news report, it is unclear as to how this fatal collision occurred. There are still several unanswered questions here. Why did the driver, Childs, lose control of the vehicle? Was the driver under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs? Was the driver fatigued, distracted or otherwise reckless? Was speed a factor in this collision? Was there an auto defect or mechanical malfunction in the vehicle that could have caused or contributed to the incident? Were other vehicles involved? I trust officials are looking into these and other issues in order to determine precisely what occurred here and why.
Fault and Liability
In such cases, the vehicle involved in the collision must be preserved unaltered so that an expert can thoroughly examine it for possible defects and malfunctions. If the driver’s negligence caused this crash, then, he could be held liable for the victim’s wrongful death. If an auto defect caused the crash, then, the vehicle manufacturer or the maker of a defective part can be held liable. Families of deceased victims in such cases would be well advised to contact an experienced Long Beach personal injury attorney who will stay on top of the official investigation and ensure that their legal rights and best interests are protected.