California Injury Blog
Oakland Police on Friday arrested a 28-year-old man who they say caused a fatal car crash on Thanksgiving Day and then fled. That auto accident left two girls dead and a mother and her daughter with critical injuries, according to an Associated Press news report.
Salas was reportedly hiding under the covers in a bedroom of a relative’s home when officers barged in and arrested him, police told the Associated Press. Salas allegedly ran a stop sign and slammed his Ford Expedition sport utility vehicle into a Ford Mustang driven by Laura Herrera. She and her 3-year-old daughter remain in critical condition, according to the report. Killed in the crash were Herrera’s 4-year-old daughter and 15-year-old niece.
Salas’ own nephew told officials that Salas was driving recklessly even before he caused the fatal crash. Reports say he was driving in excess of 80 miles an hour and running several stop signs before the accident and was also drinking, making proclamations that he “wasn’t afraid to die,” the article states. Salas reportedly told investigators that he was only doing 25 miles an hour and missed the stop sign.
Once Salas crashed the SUV, angry witnesses who saw the accident tried to restrain him and keep him at the scene, but Salas got away. Police were able to track down Salas because one of the witnesses grabbed his wallet and jacket before Salas ran away from the scene. He is reportedly being charged with drunk driving, hit-and-run and gross vehicular manslaughter.
Salas also apparently has a rap sheet. He is already on probation on a 2006 battery conviction and a prior DUI conviction from 2004, the news report said.
Clearly, this is man who has consistently gotten in trouble with the law and has even had a prior DUI conviction. Of course, it remains to be seen how he pleads to the charges and eventually, should the case go to trial, if he’s found guilty. But the children killed in this crash and the family that has suffered irreparable damage and an extremely tragic loss must receive fair compensation for what they are suffering and will continue to suffer for a long time.
The family will need money to bury the two young girls who died. They will start running steep medical bills for the mother and daughter who are fighting for their lives. This family definitely needs an experienced personal injury lawyer on their side who will conduct an independent investigation and help them secure the money they need from insurance carriers.
The tough road that personal injury victims have to take is unimaginable for someone who is lucky enough to have not suffered through that. The trauma doesn’t end with the accident. An auto accident, for many, is unfortunately the beginning of a traumatic experience. Don’t go down that road without the help, guidance and advice of a qualified and experienced personal injury attorney who will stand by you through it all.