Holly Griggs, 38, of Huntington Beach, who was injured in a hit-and-run auto accident with mixed martial artist Quinton “Rampage” Jackson on the 55 Freeway has suffered a miscarriage, the Daily Pilot reports . Griggs was reportedly driving her 2007 Cadillac Escalade in the left lane on the southbound 55 Freeway July 15 when Jackson’s pickup truck sideswiped her as he drove along the median lane, California Highway Patrol officials say. Griggs was reportedly 16 weeks pregnant at the time.
Jackson fled the scene, but Costa Mesa police caught up with him after a high-speed, high-risk chase as Jackson weaved through traffic with a flat tire while talking on the phone, running several red lights, driving over concrete islands and nearly striking pedestrians. He was arrested after he headed into oncoming traffic and hit another car.
Prosecutors are yet to file charges against Jackson. There is no question that he must and will face criminal charges for his reckless driving and failure to stop at the scene of the Costa Mesa auto accident. It will be interesting to see how the district attorney’s office charges Jackson. California law does not provide for any type of manslaughter charge for the death of an unborn child. California law does provide for the possibility of a murder charge where the facts warrant such a charge. However, a traffic accident of this nature would not warrant a murder charge. I trust the Orange County District Attorney’s office will prosecute Jackson to the fullest extent of the law. Lot’s of people are going to be watching this case.
According to Griggs and her boyfriend, Bill Krebs, there is no question that the auto accident caused her miscarriage. Krebs says doctors noticed a significant loss of fluid in Griggs’ womb immediately after the accident. This is a real tragedy and is the first case of a significantly injured fetus I have seen in nearly a hundred auto accidents I have worked that involving a mother to be. Usually the yet to be born child is very effectively protected in the mother’s womb.
My heart goes out to Griggs and Krebs. What a tragedy. There is no doubt that Griggs and Krebs should be consulting with a very skilled Orange County personal injury lawyer regarding their rights and options. This is not a case to be handled on your own or by just any personal injury attorney. The couple will get better care and a better result more efficiently with a truly great personal injury law firm..
No amount of money will bring their baby back. But, legal action and resulting compensation serves as a reminder to all that such acts of negligence don’t go unnoticed or unpunished and it provides the couple with another layer of closure.