California Injury Blog

Published on: August 15, 2011

Motorcyclist Seriously Injured in Huntington Beach DUI Collision

By Brian Chase

A 46-year-old man was seriously injured in a Huntington Beach car accident when a drunk driver struck his motorcycle. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the DUI crash occurred on Pacific Coast Highway, near Goldenwest Street, in Huntington Beach, the afternoon of August 12, 2011. Police say Jesse Rodriguez, 21, was driving a Chevrolet Silverado pickup in the bike lane to pass slower vehicles when he clipped the Harley-Davidson driven by the victim.

The motorcyclist sustained serious injuries. Rodriguez fled the scene, but authorities were able to track him down and arrest him shortly after the incident. Rodriguez faces several charges including, driving under the influence, possession of marijuana, hit-and-run, and reckless driving.
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Published on: August 12, 2011

Worker Electrocuted On the Job

By Brian Chase

A 32-year-old man sustained fatal job injuries after he was electrocuted while working on the roof of a Camarillo home. According to a news report in the Ventura County Star, the man was disassembling a chimney the afternoon of August 11, 2011, at a home in the 2500 block of Paseo Noche, when he touched some overhead wires with a piece of metal. Emergency personnel found the worker lying on the roof and not breathing. His heart had also stopped beating. The man was rushed to a local hospital where he died. An investigation is ongoing.
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Published on: August 11, 2011

Bicyclist Killed in Irvine Car Accident

By Brian Chase

Duane Parkison, a 15-year veteran of the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, was killed in an Irvine car accident after his bicycle was hit by an SUV. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the fatal bicycle accident occurred the afternoon of August 10, 2011 on Shady Canyon, near Quail Hill Parkway. Police say a Mercedes Benz SUV driven by a 35-year-old woman struck Parkison. The woman and an infant in the SUV were not injured. Officials are still looking into what caused this crash and who was at fault. Anyone who witnessed this fatal collision is asked to contact Irvine police at 949-724-7023.
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Published on: August 10, 2011

Elderly Man Killed in Los Angeles Hit-and-Run Car Accident

By Brian Chase

Chong Min, 75, was killed in a Los Angeles car accident after he was struck by a vehicle while walking in a crosswalk. According to a news report in the Daily Breeze, the fatal pedestrian accident occurred the night of August 6, 2011 at the intersection of Mesa and Third streets in San Pedro. Officials say Min was walking southbound on Mesa, when he was hit by a white minivan that was traveling west on Third. Min sustained a skull fracture and was pronounced dead in an area hospital. The driver of the minivan did not stop or contact authorities. Anyone with information about this fatal collision is asked to contact LAPD’s South Traffic Division at 323-421-2500.
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Published on: August 9, 2011

Three Killed in Orange County Car Accident

By Brian Chase

Three women, Angela Prado, 49, Elda Nava-Mayo, 24, and Sara Flores, 40, were killed in an Orange County crash after the Ford Excursion SUV in which they were passengers crashed on a freeway exit. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the fatal SUV rollover crash occurred the night of August 8, 2011 on the northbound 5 Freeway at the Beach Boulevard exit in Buena Park. The three female passengers died at the scene while two others, including the 41-year-old driver and an 16-year-old passenger, sustained major injuries and were transported to a local trauma center.
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Published on: August 8, 2011

Woman Killed, Man Injured in Anaheim Car Accident

By Brian Chase

Dellene Burgeson, 51, was killed and a man is in critical condition following an Orange County car accident involving a head-on collision. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the fatal car crash occurred on West Ball Road at Magnolia Avenue in Anaheim, the night of August 5, 2011. Police say Burgeson was driving west on Ball at a high rate of speed, when her Lincoln vehicle crossed the divider and entered oncoming traffic, before hitting a Mazda. The Mazda’s driver sustained major injuries. Burgeson died at the scene. The Lincoln also struck three other moving vehicles and two parked vehicles. Two others sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
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Published on: August 5, 2011

Bicyclist Killed in Riverside Car Accident

By Brian Chase

Michael Biel, 51, was killed in a Riverside car accident after he was struck by a vehicle. According to a news report in The Press-Enterprise, the fatal bicycle accident occurred on Rubidoux Boulevard south of 26th Street in Jurupa Valley. Officials say Biel had been riding a bicycle on Rubidoux Boulevard when he was struck by an oncoming truck. Officials are still looking into what caused this fatal crash.

I offer my deepest condolences to the family members and friends of Michael Biel for their tragic and heartbreaking loss. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
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Published on: August 5, 2011

Los Angeles Van Accident Injures 15

By Brian Chase

Fifteen people were injured in a Los Angeles car accident involving an adult day care van and a car. According to a City News Service report, the Genesis Adult Day Health Care passenger van collided with a car at the intersection of Wilbur Avenue and Kittridge Street in Tarzana the morning of August 4, 2011. It is unclear at this time what caused the two vehicles to collide. While none of the victims sustained life-threatening injuries, eight of the victims had to be transported to a hospital. The cause of the crash is still under investigation.
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Published on: August 4, 2011

Fatal Los Angeles Car Accident Also Injures Six

By Brian Chase

A 35-year-old man was killed in a Los Angeles car accident that also resulted in injuries to six other people. According to a City News Service report, the fiery car accident occurred on West Pacific Coast Highway in Pacific Palisades, the early morning of August 3, 2011.

Officials say the 27-year-old female driver crashed her 2002 Ford Focus into a streetlight along the highway and then a wall, before the vehicle burst into flames. A 35-year-old man died at the scene. The driver and a 15-year-old passenger were airlifted to an area hospital in critical condition. A 10-year-old passenger sustained multiple broken bones while three others, ages 17, 6 and 1, sustained relatively minor injuries. The relationship between the driver and the passengers is not known at this time.
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Published on: August 3, 2011

Worker Killed after 30-Foot Fall at Los Angeles Waste Water Treatment Plant

By Brian Chase

Edgar Gonzalez, 30, who was working on a construction project at the Hyperion waste water treatment plant sustained fatal job injuries after a 30-foot fall. According to a news report in the Los Angeles Daily News, the accident occurred at the plant on Vista del Mar, near El Segundo, the afternoon of Aug. 2, 2011. The man had been erecting a wall panel at the plant and was trying to secure the top when he fell.

Investigators from the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health, known as Cal/OSHA, are looking into the cause of this tragic accident. The man was not a Hyperion employee, but worked for USS Cal Builders, an Orange County-based general contractor. Hyperion officials say this is the first construction-related fatality at that plant since it was first modernized in the 1950s.
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