Tracy Clow, 51, was fatally injured in an Irvine car accident after his pickup truck crashed into an utility pole. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the collision occurred the night of June 6, 2012 at the intersection of Von Karman and Anchor. Police say Clow’s Ford F-150 pickup truck went out of control and struck a light pole. No other vehicles seem to have been involved in the incident. Clow, a resident of Capistrano Beach, was pronounced dead at the scene. The fatal crash is still under investigation.
I offer my deepest sympathies to the family members and friends of Tracy Clow for their tragic and heartbreaking loss. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
Car Accident Statistics
According to California Highway Patrol’s 2009 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), Irvine car accidents caused 14 fatalities and injured 871 people. During the same year, 141 people died and 13,373 were injured due to Orange County car accidents.
What Caused This Crash?
Based on this news account, there is very little information about how or why this fatal accident occurred. There are several unanswered questions here. Was there some type of auto defect or mechanical malfunction in the pickup truck, which may have caused the driver to lose control? Was there a dangerous condition on the roadway? Were any other vehicles involved? For example, was the pickup run off the roadway by another vehicle? Did driver error play a part? I trust officials are looking into these and other issues in order to determine precisely what occurred here and why.
Liability Issues
In such cases, it would be a good idea to preserve the vehicle in its current condition, unaltered, so an expert can thoroughly examine it for defects, malfunctions and other evidence. If an auto defect caused this accident, the automaker or the manufacturer of the defective product can be held liable for Clow’s wrongful death. If a dangerous roadway caused the crash, then, the city or governmental agency responsible for maintaining the roadway can be held liable. Under California Government Code Section 911.2, any personal injury or wrongful death claim against a governmental entity must be filed within 180 days of the incident. An experienced Irvine personal injury lawyer will be able to better advise victims or their families about their legal rights and options.