California Injury Blog
A speeding pickup truck crashed into an apartment complex in North Long Beach on the night of March 1, killing a father and his 3-year-old daughter who were inside.
KABC News and others have identified the victims as 42-year-old Jose Palacios and his daughter, Samantha. Shortly before the crash, surveillance video captured a 2014 Dodge Ram speeding northbound in the 6600 block of Rose Avenue. The footage shows the truck plowing into the apartment where Palacios and his daughter were sleeping.
Horrific Long Beach Crash Scene
Palacios’ wife and 15-year-old son were also home at the time of the crash but escaped injury. The driver of the Dodge truck, described as a man in his 20s, fled the scene on foot. Palacios was pronounced dead at the scene, and Samantha was taken to an area hospital where she succumbed to her injuries.
A neighbor who helped pull the girl and her father out from under the truck said it looked like a hurricane had destroyed the home. Anyone with information about the incident or the hit-and-run driver is asked to contact Long Beach police at 562-570-7355.
We offer our deepest condolences to the Palacios family for their terrible, heartbreaking loss. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
Laws and Liability Issues
Based on this news report, it appears that the driver of the Dodge truck not only crashed into a home where people were sleeping and fatally injured two of its occupants but abandoned the vehicle and fled the scene. Based on the surveillance video, officials say that the truck was traveling at a high rate of speed. It appears that the driver may have lost control because of excessive speed. In addition, in violation of California Vehicle Code Section 20001 (a), the driver fled the crash scene without rendering aid to the victims or waiting for officials to arrive.
In such cases, it is crucial that families of deceased victims seek the counsel of an experienced Long Beach personal injury lawyer who will stay abreast of the official investigation and help ensure that their legal rights and best interests are protected. A knowledgeable car accident lawyer will also advise victims about how their own auto insurance policy might apply to a hit-and-run crash or in a case where the at-fault driver is uninsured or underinsured.
Source: https://abc7.com/long-beach-hit-and-run-father-girl/11617401/