California Injury Blog
Jason Carbonell, 23, was killed in a Dana Point car accident after his vehicle collided with another car that was sought by police. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the incident began the night of Aug. 21 when Laguna Beach police began pursuing a Toyota Corolla on Pacific Coast Highway near Niguel Road.
Police broke off that pursuit and the Corolla struck the Subaru Outback driven by Carbonell at Coast Highway and Selva Road. Police say the Corolla may have ran a red light at the intersection before striking the Outback. But, that is still under investigation. It is not clear why Laguna Beach police sought to stop the Corolla.
Injuries and Fatality
The incident began with Laguna Beach police pursuing the Toyota Corolla on Pacific Coast Highway near Niguel Road. Police broke off that pursuit, Braun said, and the Corolla struck the Outback about a half-mile south of Niguel at PCH and Selva Road. The driver of the Corolla, a woman in her 40s, remains hospitalized with injuries and will be booked into jail when she is medically cleared, police said.
It is also unclear what charges she might face. Investigators were also looking into whether the woman was driving under the influence. Carbonell was cut out of the Subaru and died at a hospital. Carbonell was driving the vehicle. His twin brother Brian, one of the vehicle’s passengers, is in intensive care at an area hospital. Brian Carbonell’s girlfriend who was also in the car sustained relatively minor injuries and was released from the hospital.
Our deepest condolences go out to the Carbonell family for their heartbreaking loss. We also wish Brian Carbonell the very best for a speedy and complete recovery. Please keep them all in your thoughts and prayers.
Ongoing Investigation
It appears that the driver of the Toyota Corolla may have been under the influence and may have even possibly run a red light. It also appears that this was a high-impact crash. It’s not known how fast she was going when she struck the Subaru. It is illegal under California Vehicle Code Section 23152 (a) to operate a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. It is also against the law to run a red light. Police have said they will release more information about why the driver of the Corolla was pursued by officers.
In such cases, where negligence or wrongdoing is a factor, families of deceased victims can seek compensation for their tremendous losses by filing a wrongful death lawsuit. Injured victims can seek compensation for medical expenses, lost income, hospitalization, cost of rehabilitation, permanent injuries, disabilities and pain and suffering. An experienced Orange County car accident lawyer will be able to advise victims regarding their legal rights and options.
Source: https://www.ocregister.com/2020/08/22/23-year-old-man-killed-in-dana-point-crash-with-another-car-that-was-sought-by-police/