Frank Kwangsu Kim, 49, of Lake Elsinore was killed in a Chino Hills rollover auto accident the morning of February 3, 2009 after his car hit some debris on the 91 Freeway and crashed. According to this news report, Kim was driving a Nissan Sentra eastbound on the 91 Freeway near Green River Road when the vehicle was struck by debris. Kim lost control of his vehicle and hit the center divider and overturned. Kim suffered major neck injuries and died shortly after the crash. Officials did not say what kind of debris Kim struck on the freeway.
My heart goes out to the family of Frank Kwangsu Kim for their tragic loss. I offer my deepest sympathies to the victim’s family and friends. It is heartbreaking to see that a man was killed because someone else carelessly dropped debris on the freeway.
Hundreds of deaths occur each year in the United States because of debris on the roadway. The California State Department of Transportation (Caltrans) says highway debris has caused 155 California traffic accident deaths just over the last two years. In fact this is the second freeway accident relating to debris in Southern California over the last one week! We just wrote about 52-year-old Leonard Vernon Maxwell who was killed in a January 30, 2009 accident on the 91 Freeway in Corona after his motorcycle struck debris on the freeway.
These tragedies often happen because negligent motorists and commercial truckers fail to secure their loads properly. These motorists could be held criminally and civilly responsible for the negligence. Our firm has represented numerous victims and families that have been injured or have lost loved ones in freeway debris traffic accidents.
These victims and families have a right to be compensated for their injuries and loss. In this case, I hope the negligent party is identified and held accountable. But please remember that even if the responsible party is never identified or found, the uninsured motorist provision of an auto insurance policy may compensate the injured victim or the family of a deceased auto accident victim. The family of Frank Kwangsu Kim would be well-advised to consult with an experienced California personal injury attorney who will not only explain their legal rights and options but also tell them how their auto insurance policy will apply to a roadway debris accident.