California Injury Blog
Gail Connelle, 64, was killed the night of August 13, 2009 in an Orange County car accident while crossing Beach Boulevard in Stanton, California. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, Connelle was on her way to work at a Walgreens in Stanton. She was crossing Beach near Chapman Avenue when a 65-year-old man in a Lexus heading north on Beach, struck her. Connelle had just been dropped off by a bus across the street from her job, according to her brother Michael Caserta.
Connelle was hit when she began crossing the street eastbound. Police are currently looking into whether Connelle was walking in the crosswalk when she was hit by the car. Caserta says he cannot imagine his sister would try to cross Beach Boulevard, which an extremely busy street, at the hour, outside a crosswalk. Connelle sustained severe injuries and was taken to an area hospital, where she died shortly after the accident. No citations were issued, or arrests made, pending a police investigation.
My heart goes out to the family and friends of Gail Connelle for their sudden, tragic and heartbreaking loss. I offer my deepest sympathies to everyone who knew and loved Connelle. Please keep them in your prayers.
Orange County Pedestrian Accident Statistics
According to California Highway Patrol’s 2007 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were no fatalities and only two injuries involving pedestrian accidents in Stanton. In Orange County as a whole, 41 deaths and 726 injuries were reported as a result of pedestrian accidents in 2007.
I trust the police investigation will reveal the facts of the case. There are many questions here that must be answered in this pedestrian accident. Why did the motorist not stop for Connelle? Was the driver intoxicated, distracted or speeding? Was Connelle walking in a crosswalk? The answers to these questions will help determine the cause of this tragic accident and if any negligence was involved.
Orange County Personal Injury Lawyer
Connelle’s family would be well-advised to contact an experienced Orange County personal injury lawyer who will keep up with the investigation and make sure all negligent parties are held liable. If this accident was the fault of the driver and there was wrongdoing involved, he could be held civilly and criminally responsible. A skilled Orange County car accident lawyer could also help determine whether there was a dangerous condition on that roadway, which may have caused or contributed to this crash. If that was the case, the governmental agency responsible for maintaining that roadway could also be held liable. Please remember that any such claim against a California governmental agency must be properly filed within 180 days of the accident or injury.