Ruben Martinez, 53, was killed in a pedestrian accident after he was struck by a motorcycle the morning of January 21, 2009, on the Long Beach (710) Freeway. According to this news report in The Press Telegram, Martinez was walking east on the freeway when one of two motorcyclists, who possibly did not see the pedestrian, struck him. Martinez was pronounced dead at the scene.
The motorcyclist who hit Martinez, 39-year-old Ramiro Ceja, of Long Beach was injured after he was thrown off his bike upon the impact. Ceja apparently flew 60 feet off his bike and suffered a numb left arm and scraped skin on the right side of his body. The second motorcyclist told officials that he and Ceja were traveling at about 80 mph when the collision occurred. The other motorcyclist swerved in time to avoid Martinez, but Ceja could not.
My heart goes out to the family and friends of Ruben Martinez for their tragic loss. I’m glad the motorcyclist in this case did not suffer fatal or catastrophic injuries from this crash. Please keep them in your prayers.
This news report offers little information about what exactly had happened on the freeway. It doesn’t appear Martinez was intoxicated or disoriented when he was walking on the freeway. Had his vehicle stalled? Was he trying to cross the freeway to get help or move his vehicle? We don’t know at this point. Also, the motorcyclist who was riding with Ceja says they were traveling on the freeway at 80 mph. Was Ceja unable to stop because he was traveling at a high rate of speed?
These are some of the important questions that need to be answered in this case. Martinez’s family would be well-advised to consult with an experienced Long Beach auto accident attorney, who will advise them as to how they can protect their rights and if they are entitled to a claim for compensation. A skilled personal injury attorney will also look into other factors that may have contributed to the auto accident, identify the negligent parties and hold them accountable.