A man leaving a Sylmar pot dispensary in his car t-boned a passing vehicle, pushing that sedan into oncoming traffic and sending the husband and wife inside to a hospital with critical injuries. According to a news report in the Los Angeles Daily News, the crash occurred in the 12700 block of West Foothill Boulevard and left the couple with life-threatening injuries. It took firefighters 45 minutes to free the couple from the vehicle. They had to remove the entire top of the vehicle to extricate the injured man and woman. Their 7-month-old infant, who was in the back of the sedan in a car seat, was not injured.
Ongoing Investigation
Officials said the man driving his sedan out of the dispensary was not suspected of driving under the influence. He also did not appear to have committed a traffic violation when he the center of the couple’s Infiniti sending the vehicle into the path of a GMC SUV, officials said.
Regardless, officials said, if either of the victims in the hospital were to succumb to their injuries, the case will be submitted to the DA’s office for possible vehicular manslaughter charges, officials said. No one else was injured. Police say they continue to collect evidence including any video that captured the moment of the collision. The investigation is ongoing.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the man and woman who have been critically injured in this crash. It is a relief that the baby was unharmed, which once again proves that the safest place for an infant is in the back seat snugly restrained in a child safety seat.
Laws and Liability Issues
Based on this news report, officials say based on preliminary investigations that the driver who struck the couple’s vehicle was not under the influence and he might not have violated any traffic laws. We trust police will examine surveillance video and other evidence to better determine whether the driver pulling out from the pot dispensary was negligent or careless in any way. Under the law, drivers who are pulling out from alleys or driveways have a duty to exercise care and get on the roadway only when it is safe to do so.
In such cases, regardless of what criminal charges are filed, injured victims may be able to seek compensation for damages including medical expenses, lost wages, hospitalization, cost of rehabilitation, permanent injuries, disabilities, pain and suffering and emotional distress. An experienced Los Angeles car accident attorney will be able to remain on their side, fight for their rights and help ensure they receive maximum compensation for their losses.
Source: https://www.dailynews.com/2019/03/03/3-car-crash-in-sylmar-sends-infant-3-others-to-hospital/