Carmelita Delsol Rayos, 68, was killed in a Long Beach car accident, after she was struck by an SUV while crossing the road. According to a news report in The Press Telegram, Rayos was trying to cross West Willow Street at the corner of Baltic Avenue the morning of December 14, 2009, when a black 2003 GMC Yukon crashed into her. Rayos’ body was thrown at least 75 feet from the point of impact and she died at the scene. Long Beach police officials said Rayos was crossing at the intersection although there was no marked crosswalk there. The driver of the SUV, identified only as a 42-year-old man, was uninjured. He was not cited or arrested, pending a police investigation.
I offer my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Carmelita Delsol Rayos for their tragic, sudden and heartbreaking loss. My heart goes out to everyone who knew and loved this woman. Please keep them in your prayers.
Long Beach Pedestrian Accidents
According to California Highway Patrol’s 2007 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were 15 deaths and 274 injuries as a result of pedestrian accident in Long Beach. In Los Angeles County as a whole, 210 deaths and 5,095 injuries were reported due to pedestrian accidents during the same year. Countywide, car accidents claimed 712 lives and caused 56,475 injuries in 2007.
Based on this news report, it seems that Rayos was crossing at an intersection. California law states motorists should yield right-of-way to pedestrians who are walking at an intersection, whether in a marked or unmarked crosswalk.
California Car Accident Laws
California Vehicle Code Section 21950 states: “The driver of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within any marked crosswalk or within any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection.” The same section also states that the driver of a vehicle approaching a pedestrian within any marked or unmarked crosswalk “shall exercise all due care and shall reduce the speed of a vehicle or take any other action relating to the operating of the vehicle as necessary to safeguard the safety of the pedestrian.”
In this particular case, I trust officials are looking into whether the motorist had the green light at the intersection at the time of the collision. If I were a member of Rayos’ family, I’d want to know whether the driver of the Yukon was speeding, driving recklessly, distracted or otherwise negligent. The family of this victim would be well-advised to consult with an experienced Long Beach personal injury lawyer, who will analyze all aspects of this fatal collision and make sure that their legal rights are protected.
The Bisnar Chase Personal Injury Attorneys is not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call us or another reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free consultation. We provide a free, confidential consultation to not at fault persons named in this article. The free consultation offer extends to family members as well.