Articles Posted in Pedestrian Accidents

The pregnant woman, who was killed in a hit-and-run pedestrian accident in Cathedral City the night of February 11, 2009, has been identified as 18-year-old Danica Denton of Desert Hot Springs. According to this news report in The Desert Sun, Denton’s fetus was also killed in the auto accident. Denton was walking across westbound East Palm Canyon Drive at the intersection of Van Fleet in Cathedral City when she was struck by a vehicle driven by Gina Garcia of Palm Springs. Garcia was arrested on suspicion of felony hit-and-run.

My heart goes out to the family and friends of this young woman who also lost her baby as a result of the fatal injuries she suffered in this accident. I offer my deepest condolences to them. They will be in my prayers.

I trust that Garcia, who fled the scene in this fatal California hit and run pedestrian accident, will now be brought to justice and held accountable for her actions. To strike this pregnant woman and to leave her lying on the street is unacceptable, even if it was done in a moment of panic. Leaving the scene of an accident is a criminal offense under California law.
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Police in Westminster are still trying to identify an elderly woman who they say died in a pedestrian versus auto accident on February 10, 2009. According to this news report in The Orange County Register, the fatal Orange County pedestrian accident occurred when the driver of a pickup truck Oscar Guzman, 20, attempted to make a right turn at the intersection of Jackson Street and Westminster Boulevard. Police say Guzman, who was stopped at a red light on the southbound side of Jackson, was looking to his left at oncoming traffic, but did not see the woman stepping out in front crossing the street.

Guzman’s pickup ran over the woman who was taken to a hospital where she died. Guzman is apparently a licensed driver and police say he didn’t seem to be driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of the accident. He was given a toxicology test. Police say they don’t believe he was distracted by the cell phone at the time of the accident either. If you saw this accident or have any further information, please call Westminster Police Officer Al Brackett at 714-898-3315, ext. 333.

I offer my deepest sympathies to the family of this elderly woman for their tragic loss. Please keep them in your prayers.
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Jose Luis Baxin-Campechano, 28, died in an Oxnard pedestrian accident after a motorist struck him when he was walking in a marked crosswalk, the Ventura County Star reports in this article. Baxin-Campechano was struck the evening of February 7, 2009 by a gray sport utility vehicle. The driver fled the scene, but was later identified as Noberto Carranza Hernandez, 61.

Officials said Baxin-Campechano lay motionless on the roadway when a second driver, 24-year-old Liliana Garcia Camacho, 24, ran over him. She immediately stopped and called authorities. She has not been charged, but Hernandez was arrested on suspicion of felony hit-and-run. Baxin-Campechano was taken to an area hospital where he died from blunt-force injuries.

My heart goes out to the family of Jose Luis Baxin-Campechano for their heartbreaking loss. According to the news report Baxin-Campechano was supporting his wife and three children in Veracruz, Mexico, with money he made from picking strawberries here in Ventura County. Please keep this man’s grieving family in your prayers.

Leaving the scene of an accident is a crime under California law. A motorist is required to remain at the scene of the accident, exchange information with other parties and if involved in an injury accident, is required to provide any possible assistance to the injured party. This could entail something as basic as calling 911 so that the injured person gets medical attention right away.
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Emily Cathleen Dowdy, 24, died in a pedestrian accident in Pacific Beach after she was struck by a drunken driver while crossing the street. According to this news report in the San Diego Union-Tribune, the accident occurred the evening of February 7, 2009 when Dowdy was walking west on Mission Boulevard at Reed Avenue in a marked crosswalk. It was then that 45-year-old Alan Mabrey struck her with his 2004 Dodge Ram pickup.

Mabrey apparently left the scene of the accident, but returned about 30 minutes later and told officers he panicked and went to a Burger King to get something to eat. Both Mabrey and his passenger, the registered owner of the pickup truck, were intoxicated, San Diego police officials say. Officers also found eight empty beer cans and four unopened beer cans in the truck. Mabrey was arrested on suspicion of felony DUI and hit-and-run charges. He is also facing gross vehicular manslaughter charges.

My heart goes out to the family and friends of Emily Kathleen Dowdy, who was taken away from them so tragically and suddenly. I offer my deepest condolences to everybody who knew and loved her.

According to statistics from the California Highway Patrol’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Reporting System (SWITRS), a total of 273 fatal auto accidents were reported in San Diego County in 2006. Out of those 101 fatalities were due to alcohol related accidents.
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Kum Lim, 88, died after the motorized wheelchair she was in was struck by a vehicle as she was trying to cross the street. According to an article in The Orange County Register, Lim was driving a Rascal mobility wheelchair on Lampson Avenue near Monarch Street the morning of February 9, 2009 when she tried to cross the street. A passing driver hit Lim’s wheelchair injuring her severely. Lim was taken to an area hospital where she died a few hours after the accident. Garden Grove police are not sure where and how Lim was crossing the street. The driver has not been cited or arrested pending an investigation.

My heart goes out to the family and friends of Kum Lim for their tragic loss. I offer my deepest condolences to everyone who knew and loved this woman. Please keep them in your prayers.

It would be extremely important in this case to find out whether or not Kum Lim was crossing the street in a marked crosswalk or at an intersection. Whether it is a pedestrian or a person on a wheelchair or a bicycle, California law requires motorists to yield right-of-way to those crossing at intersections.
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A 64-year-old woman who suffered serious injuries in an Orange County pedestrian versus auto accident has been identified as Maria Salinas of Placentia. Salinas was waiting to cross Placentia Avenue at Ruby Drive on January 31, 2009 when the driver of a pickup truck veered to the right, jumped the curb and hit her. Salinas was taken to an area hospital with a broken leg and back and other internal injuries. Our source for this blog is this news report in The Orange County Register.

Placentia police officials say the driver of the pickup, identified as a 20-year-old Fullerton man, was either speeding or did not see the cars stopped in front of him. The driver was not cited or arrested and drunk driving is not suspected.

I’m extremely relieved that this woman was not killed or suffer catastrophic injuries in this Orange County pedestrian accident, which could have been a lot worse. I wish Maria Salinas the very best for a speedy and complete recovery and I’m happy to learn and she is now listed in stable condition.
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Los Angeles police have arrested 30-year-old Henry Yovanni Moreno of South Gate after he struck and killed an 11-month-old girl and injured her 5-year-old sister and mother as they were crossing the street in a crosswalk. According to this news report in the Los Angeles Daily News, the family was struck at Bonnie Brae Street and Olympic Boulevard in Los Angeles County as the mother was pushing the two children in a stroller the evening of February 1, 2009. The three victims were in a marked crosswalk. Other vehicles had stopped for them, but Moreno who was driving a black Honda, did not stop and ran them over.

Police say Moreno was driving under the influence at the time of the collision. He apparently fled the scene of the crash and abandoned his 1991 Honda near Staples Center at 12th Street and Figueroa Avenue. Moreno was arrested shortly afterward.

What a horrible tragedy for this family! I offer my deepest sympathies to this mother who saw one of her children struck and killed in front of her eyes. Please keep the 5-year-old girl in your prayers as she fights for her life. The girl and her family will be in my prayers and I wish her and the mother a quick and complete recovery.

There is no question that Moreno should face criminal charges in connection with this horrific hit-and-run accident. He has apparently not been charged yet, but based on news reports, he should be facing felony drunk driving, hit-and-run as well as vehicular manslaughter charges. He should not only face criminal charges, but must also be made to pay for the injuries, loss, damage and heartache he has caused this family. Moreno should be held civilly liable for what he has done to this family.
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Ruben Martinez, 53, was killed in a pedestrian accident after he was struck by a motorcycle the morning of January 21, 2009, on the Long Beach (710) Freeway. According to this news report in The Press Telegram, Martinez was walking east on the freeway when one of two motorcyclists, who possibly did not see the pedestrian, struck him. Martinez was pronounced dead at the scene.

The motorcyclist who hit Martinez, 39-year-old Ramiro Ceja, of Long Beach was injured after he was thrown off his bike upon the impact. Ceja apparently flew 60 feet off his bike and suffered a numb left arm and scraped skin on the right side of his body. The second motorcyclist told officials that he and Ceja were traveling at about 80 mph when the collision occurred. The other motorcyclist swerved in time to avoid Martinez, but Ceja could not.

My heart goes out to the family and friends of Ruben Martinez for their tragic loss. I’m glad the motorcyclist in this case did not suffer fatal or catastrophic injuries from this crash. Please keep them in your prayers.
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A 17-year-old girl was seriously injured in a Los Angeles County pedestrian versus SUV accident on January 25, 2009, the Whittier Daily News reports. The teenager was walking on Imperial Highway at Meyer Road in an unincorporated area of Los Angeles County near La Mirada when she was struck by the sport utility vehicle. The girl suffered head injuries and a broken arm and was taken to the trauma center of an area hospital. The driver of the SUV remained at the scene. California Highway Patrol is investigating the cause of the accident.

My heart goes out to the young girl who was injured in this accident and her family members, who must be going through a tough time figuring out how and why this accident occurred. I’m relieved that the teenager did not suffer fatal injuries and I sincerely hope her head injuries are not catastrophic. I wish her the very best for a quick and complete recovery and will keep the girl and her family in my prayers.

According to 2006 statistics from the California Highway Patrol’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Reporting System (SWITRS), there were six deaths and 11 injuries involving pedestrian accidents in La Mirada. In Los Angeles County as a whole, 212 people were killed and 5,224 were injured during the same period as a result of pedestrian accidents Continue reading →

Juanita Hernandez, 24, of Montclair was killed in a San Bernardino pedestrian accident, according to this article in the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin. Hernandez was walking on Etiwanda Avenue the morning of January 20, 2009 when she was struck by a 1997 Chevrolet Suburban. Hernandez was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Suburban, identified only as a 25-year-old Upland man, stopped after the crash. The accident is under investigation.

I offer my deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Juanita Hernandez. Please keep them in your prayers.

According to the California Highway Patrol’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Reporting System in 2006, there were eight deaths and 51 injuries relating to pedestrian accidents in the city of San Bernardino. In the county as a whole, 57 deaths and 448 injuries were reported.

In this article of the fatal San Bernardino pedestrian accident, there is very little information about how exactly this collision occurred. The newspaper report states that Juanita Hernandez was walking on the road. But we don’t know if she was walking in a crosswalk. I trust the investigation will reveal the details.
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