Khoa Truong, 59, and Kimmy Hua, 79, were killed in a Westminster car accident involving two vehicles. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the fatal crash occurred the morning of January 2, 2017 at Beach Boulevard and Madison Avenue. Police say a convertible that was northbound on Beach collided with a Toyota Avalon that was turning left onto Madison. The sedan rammed into the front entrance of a flower shop on Beach Boulevard.
Hua was a passenger in the Toyota and died at the scene. Truong, who was driving the vehicle, was transported to an area hospital where he later died. A woman in her 50s, who was driving the convertible, sustained non-life-threatening injuries. The shop was open at the time, but thankfully, no one was injured. Police said speed, alcohol or drugs don’t seem to have been factors in this collision. The investigation is still ongoing.
Our heartfelt condolences go out to the family members and friends of Truong and Hua. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
Crash Statistics
There were five fatalities and 447 injuries reported as a result of traffic accidents in the city of Westminster in 2013, according to California Highway Patrol’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS). In Orange County as a whole, 165 people died and 13,837 were injured as a result of car accidents during the same year.
Causes and Compensation Issues
Based on this news report, it appears that the collision occurred as one of the vehicles was turning left. However there are still several unanswered questions here. Who had the right of way at the intersection? Did one of the vehicles make an unsafe turn or run the red light? Was one of the drivers distracted, inattentive or otherwise negligent? We trust officials are looking into these and other issues in order to determine precisely what occurred here and why.
In such cases, at-fault drivers (or their insurance companies) can be held financially responsible for the injuries, damages and losses caused. Families of deceased auto accident victims can file what is known as a wrongful death claim seeking compensation for damages such as medical expenses, funeral costs, lost future income, pain and suffering and loss of love and companionship. An experienced Orange County personal injury lawyer will be able to advise injured victims and their families regarding their legal rights and options.