A car accident in Santa Clarita injured two people the morning of June 15, 2010. The Orange County Register reports that the collision occurred at the intersection of Pico Canyon Road and Stevenson Ranch Parkway when 17-year-old Jessie Frutos of Garden Grove, driving a 2005 Mercedes Benz E55, drove into the path of a Los Angeles Sheriff’s patrol car driven by 24-year-old Deputy Blake Carpenter. Frutos was heading east on Pico Canyon. An investigation is ongoing.
I wish both the injured victims the very best for a quick and full recovery. I’m relieved to hear that neither one sustained major injuries in this crash.
Car Accidents
In Los Angeles County, there were 667 fatalities and 52,229 injuries involving car accidents in 2008, according to California Highway Patrol’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS). Also during the same year, 11 people died and 552 were injured as a result of car accidents in Santa Clarita.
Laws and Liability Issues
If the details of this news report are accurate, it appears that the driver of the Mercedes failed to yield right-of-way at this intersection. I trust officials are also looking into who had the right-of-way there. Who had the light at the time of the collision? California law requires motorists to yield right-of-way to oncoming vehicles. According to California Vehicle Code section 21800 (a): “The driver of a vehicle approaching an intersection shall yield the right-of-way to any vehicle which has entered the intersection from a different highway.”
If Frutos is determined to have been at fault, he could be held liable for the injuries caused to the officer. If the officer was at fault, then both he and his employer could be held liable. Please remember that any claim against a California governmental entity must be filed within six months of the accident or injury. The best Los Angeles personal injury lawyers will always offer a free and comprehensive consultation to injured victims and their families.
What precautions do you take as a driver before making a left turn at an intersection?
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.