Blaise Meadows, 20, has been charged with murder in connection with the death of Andrew Parker, 46, of Lake Forest who died in an Orange County rollover accident earlier this year. According to an October 10, 2008 news report in The Orange County Register, Parker lost control of his Alfa Romeo after it was struck from behind by Meadows, who was allegedly racing down the 241 toll road with another rider.
Court records show that Meadows had been cited four times for speeding between November 2005 and June 2007. Orange County prosecutors say Meadows was driving on a suspended license at the time of the 4/25/08 Orange County fatal auto accident. Parker suffered fatal injuries after the crash’s impact which caused his Alfa Romeo to flip over several times on the highway.
My heart goes out to Parker’s family. I pray that they get the justice they deserve and that Meadows is prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
I had blogged on this incident when it was first reported earlier in April. Meadows’ street-racing in this case was not only illegal but a negligent and irresponsible act that demonstrated a callous disregard for public safety.
In 2001, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that there were 135 fatal crashes as a result of street-racing in the United States. That total was up from 72 street-racing-related fatalities reported in 2000. The California Office of Traffic Safety reports that more than 800 citations were issued for illegal street-racing in 2001. Street racing has become an increasingly dangerous problem on Los Angeles and Orange county streets and highways.
The family of Andrew Parker would be well-advised to retain the services of a reputed Orange County personal injury lawyer experienced in handling wrongful death lawsuits.
Parker’s family needs an experienced attorney who will fight for their rights and make sure justice is done. In most cases, illegal street-racing is a misdemeanor, but when it involves serious injuries or fatalities, as it happened in this Orange County accident, the charges could be elevated to murder or vehicular manslaughter. For more information about the dangers of illegal street-racing, please visit this informational Web site hosted by Racers Against Street Racing.