Personal Injury

Published on: July 30, 2009

Brain-Injured San Francisco Bay Area Teen Still in a Coma

By Brian Chase

A 15-year-old girl remains in a coma after she suffered a traumatic brain injury in a San Francisco Bay Area pedestrian-car accident that happened at the street intersection of Healdsburg Avenue and Florence Avenue on July 3, 2009. According to The Santa Rosa Press Democrat news report, the girl was crossing the downtown Sebastopol street in a crosswalk when she was struck by a car driven by 65-year-old Linda Chilvers. Doctors are now saying that the teenager could be in the hospital for six to eight months at least.

My heart goes out to the family of this teenager, especially her parents. I wish this young girl the very best for a quick and complete recovery, although she probably has a long road ahead. Please keep her in your prayers.
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Published on: July 29, 2009

Orange County Pedestrian Accident Injures Woman

By Brian Chase

Two women were injured in a Garden Grove car accident the night of July 27, 2009 when they were struck by a suspected drunk driver, The Orange County Register reports. The male driver was reportedly traveling west on Westminster Avenue when he struck the two victims, who were crossing the street. One of the women suffered severe injuries including several broken bones. The other woman apparently suffered relatively minor injuries. The driver remained at the scene and was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence.

I’m relieved that this woman did not suffer catastrophic or life threatening injuries in this car accident. I wish the injured victim the very best for a quick and complete recovery.
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Published on: July 28, 2009

Los Angeles County DUI Car Accident Causes Major Personal Injury

By Brian Chase

Linda Sgaraglino, 58, suffered major injuries in a Los Angeles County car accident reportedly caused by a suspected drunk driver the night of July 26, 2009. According to a news report in the Ventura County Star, 26-year-old Abdula Kwara left a party and caused two hit-and-run car collisions in Simi Valley, California, whose victims followed him in their vehicles. But they both ended up losing sight of him when he fled. Minutes later, Kwara lost control of his car on the eastbound Highway 118 near Tapo Canyon Road, struck the center median and two other vehicles and careened down an embankment. Sgaraglino was an occupant in one of those vehicles that Kwara hit. She suffered major injuries, California Highway Patrol officials said.
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Published on: July 27, 2009

Orange County Motorcycle Accident Kills Man

By Brian Chase

Michael Edwards, 23, of Irvine was killed in an Orange County motorcycle accident the afternoon of July 25, 2009. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, Edwards was riding by himself near Walnut Avenue and Wisteria in Irvine, California, when he collided with a Mercedes Benz. Officials found Edwards lying on the road on Walnut. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Mercedes, a 64-year-old man, was taken to a local hospital for treatment. The cause of this car versus motorcycle collision is yet to be determined. If you witnessed this fatal motorcycle crash, please contact Irvine Police Detective, Jonathan Cherney, at 949-724-7024.
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Published on: July 24, 2009

Los Angeles Car Accident Injures Three

By Brian Chase

Three people suffered injuries in a Los Angeles car accident the afternoon of July 22, 2009 on the 10 Freeway, the San Gabriel Valley Tribune reports. According to California Highway Patrol officials the driver of a 1995 Ford Ranger lost control of the vehicle. The pickup truck rolled over on its side and became fully engulfed in flames on the westbound 10 freeway near Santa Anita Avenue in El Monte, California.
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Published on: July 22, 2009

Driver Error May Have Caused San Francisco Train Accident

By Brian Chase

All evidence seems to be pointing toward human error in a July 18, 2009 San Francisco Muni train accident that injured 48 people–four seriously–the Associated Press reports. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigators are trying to determine why the operator of a light rail that crashed into a parked train turned off the automatic controls moments before the train collision. Had the operator kept the autopilot on, federal investigators say, the train would have slowed down before arriving at the West Portal Station and not crashed into the other train. Investigators say they have not found any mechanical problems with the train so far.

Authorities would not identify the driver, but say he started as a San Francisco bus driver 30 years ago and started operating light rail trains about two years ago. He also apparently suffered serious injuries and has taken a drug test as part of Muni’s standard procedure. Investigators are also looking into whether the use of a cell phone played a role in this train crash. This is the fourth major subway or commuter train accident in the last 10 months in the United States. Reportedly more than 200 million commuters take San Francisco’s mass transit system.
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Published on: July 21, 2009

Los Angeles DUI Car Accident Kills Woman

By Brian Chase

Diana Mendoza, 26, was killed in a Los Angeles car accident after a suspected drunk driver crashed into the stalled car she was in. According to an article in the Whittier Daily News, 20-year-old Criselda Valderrama, who was driving a 1991 Toyota Previa, was arrested on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated after the July 18, 2009 fatal car crash on the northbound 605 Freeway near Washington Boulevard in Whittier. Mendoza and two other women, also 26, were all in a stalled Honda Civic after they crashed into a shoulder guardrail, California Highway Patrol officials said.

Valderrama apparently failed to notice the Honda stopped in the traffic lane and crashed into the rear of the Honda. Mendoza, who was initially driving the Civic, had switched seats with the rear passenger after the initial car crash. The other women in the Honda suffered minor injuries. Valderrama suffered moderate injuries.
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Published on: July 17, 2009

One Killed, Several Injured in Los Angeles Car Accident

By Brian Chase

Maclovia Salinas, 36, was killed in a Los Angeles car accident that also injured a motorcyclist–19-year-old Joseph Ruben Bock–the morning of July 16, 2009. According to a news report in the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, the car accident occurred on the 10 Freeway near Indian Hill Boulevard in Claremont and involved at least three vehicles–two cars and a motorcycle. California Highway Patrol officials said Salinas died at the scene after a Honda Civic in which she was a passenger was hit by another vehicle moments after it had hit the center divider.

The chain of events began when the Civic, driven by 35-year-old Maurelia Chavez went out of control in the carpool lane, hit the center divider and ended up in the fast lane. The motorcycle driven by Bock collided with the Civic and threw the rider off and onto the roadway. Then, a Toyota 4Runner, driven by 39-year-old Adalberto Vasquez Baez, crashed into the Civic causing Salinas’ fatal injuries. Bock sustained hip and knee injuries. Chavez and another passenger in the Civic, 19-year-old Elizabeth Salinas–were also injured.

My heart goes out to the family and friends of Maclovia Salinas as well as the other injured victims. I offer my deepest sympathies to the Salinas family. I wish all the injured victims the very best for a quick and complete recovery.
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Published on: July 16, 2009

Fatal SUV Rollover Accident Injures Los Angeles residents

By Brian Chase

Two people died and six were injured in a three-car rollover car accident in Utah early morning July 12, 2009. According to a news report in The Spectrum, most of the injured victims were from Los Angeles and the Southern California area. The fatal car accident occurred when 29-year-old Juan Garcia, who was driving south on the 15 Freeway, swerved to avoid a deer. Garcia’s 1993 Range Rover rolled over several times. His two children–Zapatista Angulo, 3, and Assata Angulo, 5 months, were ejected from the SUV.

The baby–Assata Angulo–died of head injuries. Olegario Angulo, 31, a passenger in the Range Rover, suffered fatal head injuries after the SUV’s roof and door caved in. He died at the scene. Chantel Manuel, 22, suffered injuries to the lower torso and Garcia sustained head and arm injuries. Zapatista Angulo was also taken to the hospital with injuries.

Mario Mendez, 67, was driving a 2006 Toyota 4Runner south when he saw the debris, but missed the Range Rover crashing into it. He was not injured. But a third driver, 47-year-old Jennifer Jordan of Rancho Santa Margarita crashed her Toyota Tacoma into the Range Rover and suffered ankle injuries. Her son, Jeremy, 20, suffered minor injuries.
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Published on: July 14, 2009

Fatal Lake Havasu Boating Accident

By Brian Chase

Officials say alcohol was a factor in a deadly boating accident on the Colorado River on July 11, 2009 that killed 23-year-old David Kerber of Moreno Valley and injured seven others. According to a news report in the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, Kerber was driving his 1999 Lavey Craft powerboat south on the river near the entrance to Lake Havasu, when he tried to pass a 1989 Caribbean powerboat operated by Michael Coleman. Kerber then collided with a northbound 2001 Warlock powerboat operated by Joal Patterson. Kerber’s boat was also hit by Coleman’s boat, which was unable to avoid the collision.

Kerber was thrown off the boat. A San Bernardino County Sheriff’s team recovered his body that was found floating face down in the river. A passenger on Kerber’s boat sustained minor injuries. Five passengers on the Warlock were taken to an area hospital with injuries. Patterson sustained internal injuries. A woman aboard the Caribbean suffered head injuries. Sheriff’s officials say alcohol was involved, but haven’t said which party is suspected of drinking. No arrests have been made yet in this case.

My heart goes out to the family of David Kerber for their tragic and heartbreaking loss. I offer my deepest sympathies to them. I also sympathize with the injured victims. I wish them all the very best for a quick and complete recovery. Please keep them in your prayers.
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