A 3-year-old girl was killed and her mother was critically injured in an Anaheim car accident, which officials say was caused by a hit-and-run driver. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the fatal hit-and-run crash occurred the evening of February 8, 2012 at the intersection of Gilbert Street and Guinida Lane. Police say the 26-year-old woman was pushing her daughter in a stroller and walking in a crosswalk when a 1995 Nissan Maxima struck them.
The driver of the Nissan abandoned the vehicle, which was later determined to have been stolen, and fled on foot. Passers by stopped to help the mother and her child who were lying on the roadway, critically injured. Both were transported to an area trauma center. The child died from her injuries and the mother remains at the hospital in critical condition. Witnesses to the collision or anyone with more information about the hit-and-run suspect is asked to contact California Highway Patrol at 949-559-7888.
I offer my deepest condolences to the young hit-and-run car accident victim’s family. Not only has the family lost this child, but also has another loved one fighting for her life in the hospital, who is fighting for her life. I wish the critically injured mother the very best for a speedy and complete recovery. Please keep this grieving family in your thoughts and prayers.
Orange County Pedestrian Accidents
According to CHP’s 2009 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were eight fatalities and 101 injuries involving pedestrian accidents in Anaheim. In Orange County as a whole, 41 people died and 864 were injured in pedestrian accidents, during the same year.
Fatal Hit-and-Run
If the details of this news account are accurate, the driver, who was in a vehicle stolen minutes ago from Stanton, was traveling at a high rate of speed and failed to yield the right-of-way to the mother and child who were walking in a marked crosswalk. This individual struck the woman and her 3-year-old daughter and left them lying on the roadway amidst scattered clothes and stroller parts. Appalling!
I certainly hope the hit-and-run driver is apprehended quickly and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. If you saw this incident or have information about the driver, please visit our web site at www.hitandrunreward.com to offer an anonymous tip and also become eligible to receive a $1,000 reward.
Protecting Victims’ Rights
Victims of hit-and-run collisions would be well advised to contact an experienced Anaheim personal injury lawyer, who will stay abreast of the official investigation and ensure that their legal rights and best interests are protected.
Residents say the crosswalk where this tragedy occurred is a dangerous one, and that bureaucracy is affecting any corrective measures. The location of the crosswalk is such that one side of the roadway is under Anaheim’s jurisdiction, while the other side is unincorporated county area.
A skilled car accident attorney will also be able to determine if a dangerous condition on the roadway caused or contributed to the accident. If that was the case, the governmental agency responsible for maintaining the roadway can be held liable. Please remember that any personal injury or wrongful death claim against a California public entity must be filed within 180 days of the incident.