Kara Marie Franco, 24, was killed in a San Diego car accident after a man ran a red light and struck her 2006 Honda Civic, 10news reports. Franco was apparently driving alone when she turned left at the intersection of Camino Ruiz and Carroll Canyon Road the afternoon of June 2, 2009 when her car was struck by another car that speeded through the red light, the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office reports. Paramedics took Franco to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead on arrival. The 73-year-old driver, who is believed to have run the red light at that intersection, was also taken to the hospital with injuries, but he is expected to recover.
My heart goes out to the family and friends of Kara Marie Franco for their tragic and heartbreaking loss. I offer my deepest sympathies to everyone who knew and loved the victim in the tragic San Diego car accident. Apparently, Franco lived with her family and worked as a nurse at a large hospital. Please keep her grieving family and friends in your prayers.
According to California Highway Patrol’s 2007 Statewide Integrated Traffic Reporting System, there were 84 fatalities and 6,516 personal injuries reported in the city of San Diego as a result of Southern California car accidents. In San Diego County, in 2007, 268 deaths and 14,641 personal injuries were reported involving car accidents.
Running a red light is a serious traffic violation in California. There are various California Vehicle Code sections that are part of what we commonly refer to as “rules of the road.” These code sections address motorists’ behavior at intersections, especially those controlled by traffic signals.
California Vehicle Code Section 21453 (a) states: “A driver facing a circular red signal shall stop at the limit line before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection or, if none, then before entering the intersection, and shall remain stopped until an indication to proceed is shown.”
There is no question that that 73-year-old man who caused this fatal California car accident with his reckless driving must be held civilly and criminally responsible for his actions. I trust traffic investigators are looking into whether he was driving under the influence as well. Kara Marie Franco’s family would be well advised to contact experienced California car accident attorneys who will fight for their rights and ensure that they get the justice and compensation they rightfully deserve. If negligence or wrongdoing is involved, families of deceased car accident victims may be able to file wrongful death claims, which usually compensate families for funeral expenses, loss of wages and other related damages.