California Injury Blog

Published on: April 27, 2011

Man Killed in Los Angeles Car Accident

By Brian Chase

James Henry Freiman, 19, was killed in a Los Angeles car accident after officials say he drove his SUV into a parked big rig in the Glassell Park area. According to a City News Service report, the fatal car accident occurred early morning on April 23, 2011 in the 2900 block of San Fernando Road near the 2 Freeway. Los Angeles police say Freiman was driving more than 50 mph when he slammed into the tractor trailer. Police say there were no skid marks on the road. The driver of the big rig was uninjured. Officials are still investigating the cause of this tragic car accident.

I offer my deepest condolences to the family members and friends of James Henry Freiman for their tragic and heartbreaking loss. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

Los Angeles Car Accident Statistics

According to California Highway Patrol’s 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were 268 fatalities and 25,588 injuries involving Los Angeles car accidents. In Los Angeles County as a whole, 667 people died and 52,229 were injured as a result of car accidents during the same year.
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Published on: April 26, 2011

Injury Car Accident in San Diego Involves Red Light Violation

By Brian Chase

A car accident in San Diego, which involved a suspected red light runner, left three people injured the afternoon of April 24, 2011. The San Diego Union-Tribune reports that the injury car accident happened at the intersection of Valley Center Valley Center Road and Cole Grade Road. Officials say that a driver in a BMW ran a red light and struck a Jeep. Two young children and a 60-year-old passenger sustained serious injuries. The driver of the BMW was issued a citation for running a red light and for driving without a valid license.

My heart goes out to the seriously injured victims of this crash. I sincerely hope none of the victims sustained life-threatening injuries and pray for their speedy and complete recovery.

Car Accidents

There were 246 deaths and 13,527 in car accidents in San Diego County, according to California Highway Patrol’s 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS). In the unincorporated areas of the county, 90 people were killed and 2,252 were injured in car accidents during the same year.
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Published on: April 25, 2011

Toddler Injured in Orange County Car Accident

By Brian Chase

A 4-year-old child was injured in an Orange County car accident after being struck by a vehicle at a street intersection. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the injury pedestrian accident occurred at the intersection of Quatro Avenue and Figueroa Street in Garden Grove the evening of April 23, 2011. The child was transported to a local hospital to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries. Police are investigating the cause of this accident.

My heart goes out to this injured child. I sincerely hope his or her injuries were not major. Please keep this young victim in your thoughts and prayers as he recovers.

Pedestrian Accident Statistics

According to California Highway Patrol’s 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were four fatalities and 49 injuries involving pedestrian accidents in Garden Grove. In Orange County as a whole, 31 people died and 785 were injured as a result of pedestrian accidents during the same year.
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Published on: April 22, 2011

Studies Show Blood Clot Risk Higher with Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella

By Brian Chase

Two new studies show women who take birth control pills with the newer hormone, drospirenone, have a higher risk for developing potentially serious blood clots than women who take pills that have the older hormone levonorgestrel. According to a news report on WebMD, Women in the studies took oral contraceptives containing drospirenone such as Yaz, Yasmin, Ocella, Gianvi and Zarah. These medications increased the risk of nonfatal blood clots by two to three times. Researchers say roughly one out of 10,000 women who take these pills for a year could develop a clot. So far, at least four other studies have linked the use of drospirenone-containing birth control pills to increased risk of pulmonary embolisms and deep vein thrombosis.

Bayer Disputes Studies

Bayer, the company which manufactures Yaz and Yasmin, maintains that these studies are flawed. They say that the risk of blood clots among women taking drospirenone-containing birth control pills is not much higher than those taking other birth control pills.

Company officials say that oral contraceptives like Yaz and Yasmin “are among the most widely studied and widely used prescription drugs on the planet.”
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Published on: April 21, 2011

17-year-old Bicyclist Killed in Canoga Park Hit-and-Run Car Accident

By Brian Chase

Alex Romero, a 17-year-old from Reseda, has been fatally injured in a Los Angeles car accident, which officials say, involved a hit-and-run driver. According to an ABC news report, the fatal bicycle accident occurred the night of April 20, 2011 near the intersection of De Soto Avenue and Valerio Street.

Officials say Alex Romero and another teen were riding their bikes side by side when a gray Toyota Corolla hatchback traveling north on De Soto Avenue rear-ended Alex’s bicycle, killing him. The driver fled the scene of the fatal crash. The other bicyclist was uninjured. Anyone with information about the hit-and-run driver is asked to contact LAPD at 1-877-LAPD-24-7.

I offer my deepest condolences to the family members and friends of young Alex Romero for their heartbreaking loss. Apparently, Alex was a senior at Chatsworth High School. Tragic! Alex Romero’s grieving family will be in my thoughts and prayers.
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Published on: April 20, 2011

U.S. Marine Killed in San Diego Motorcycle Accident

By Brian Chase

A 21-year-old U.S. Marine was fatally injured in a motorcycle accident in Escondido after he lost control of his cycle and crashed. According to a news report in the North County Times, the fatal motorcycle accident occurred the afternoon of April 16, 2011 on Highway 78 just west of Interstate 15. The Marine failed to negotiate a curve on the highway and was thrown from his motorcycle, according to a medical examiner’s report. He was transported by ambulance to a local hospital where he died shortly afterward. An investigation is ongoing.

I offer my deepest condolences to the family and friends of this deceased victim. My heart also goes out to his fellow Marines. They will be in my thoughts and prayers.

Motorcycle Accident Statistics

According to California Highway Patrol’s 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), one person died and 44 were injured as a result of motorcycle accidents in Escondido. In San Diego County as a whole, 51 fatalities and 1,081 injuries were reported as a result of motorcycle accidents during the same year.
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Published on: April 19, 2011

Los Angeles Car Accident Injures Nine

By Brian Chase

Nine people were injured, two critically, in a Los Angeles car accident involving three vehicles the evening of April 17, 2011. According to a news report in the Daily Breeze, the multi-vehicle accident occurred at the intersection of Redondo Beach Boulevard and Prairie Avenue in Torrance. Officials have not said why the three vehicles collided at the intersection or which one of the drivers was at fault. Two people were transported to a local hospital with critical injuries and seven others sustained relatively minor injuries. An investigation is ongoing.

My thoughts and prayers are with the many injured victims of this street intersection car accident. I wish them all a complete and speedy recovery.

Car Accident Statistics

According to California Highway Patrol’s 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), nine people were killed and 480 were injured in Torrance car accidents. During that same year, there were 667 fatalities and 52,229 injuries reported involving Los Angeles County car accidents.
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Published on: April 18, 2011

Driver Charged with DUI in Fresno Car Accident

By Brian Chase

Police have arrested a 68-year-old man in connection with a Fresno car accident, which severely injured 16-year-old Shaela Warkentin. According to a CBS 47 news report, the major injury crash occurred at the intersection of Barstow and Maroa avenues on March 8, 2011. Warkentin was a passenger in a vehicle that was stopped at a red light and rear-ended by a vehicle. The suspect, Douglas Lindsey, had high levels of the painkiller, Vicodin, in his blood, officials say, when he hit the back of the stopped car. The force of the collision drove Shaela’s head through the rear windshield causing severe damage to her face and head. She is still recovering in a local hospital, but has lost an eye and lost sight in the other eye. Lindsey has been charged with driving under the influence.

My heart goes out to young Shaela Warkentin and her family members. It is heartbreaking to hear that she has lost her ability to see and has suffered severe facial and head injuries. She will certainly be in my thoughts and prayers.

DUI Statistics

According to California Highway Patrol’s 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were 17 fatalities and 177 injuries involving DUI collisions in Fresno. In Fresno County as a whole, alcohol-related crashes claimed 55 lives and injured 444 people during the same year.
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Published on: April 15, 2011

Woman Killed in San Diego Car Accident

By Brian Chase

Aurora Contreras, 50, was killed in a San Diego car accident when a Dodge Intrepid struck her disabled compact car. According to a news report in The San Diego Union-Tribune, the fatal car accident occurred on Interstate 805 near State Route 94 in the Mount Hope neighborhood of San Diego the morning of April 13, 2011.

Contreras was the driver of the stalled compact car, which was hit by the Dodge. She was partially ejected from her vehicle on impact and died at the scene. The driver of the Dodge and two children who were passengers in that vehicle were transported to a local hospital with unknown injuries. An investigation is ongoing.

My heartfelt condolences go out to the family and friends of Aurora Contreras following this injury car accident. Apparently, Contreras who lived with her son, was on her way to work at the time. Tragic! My thoughts and prayers are also with the injured victims of this terrible accident.
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Published on: April 14, 2011

Hit-and-Run Driver Arrested in Connection with Fatal San Diego Bicycle Accident

By Brian Chase

Police have arrested a 46-year-old man in connection with a hit-and-run car accident in San Diego, which killed 47-year-old James Steven Swarzman the morning of April 11, 2011. According to a news report in The San Diego Union-Tribune, the fatal bicycle accident occurred on North Highway 101 in Encinitas when a Dodge Ram 1500 truck rear-ended Swarzman’s bicycle. He sustained fatal injuries and died from his injuries. Shortly after the deadly collision, Joseph Ricardo Fernandez, 46, informed authorities that he may have been involved and had left the scene of the crash. Investigators linked Fernandez to the fatal accident based on debris at the scene and arrested him on suspicion of felony hit-and-run. Authorities are also looking into whether alcohol was a factor in this fatal car accident.

My heartfelt condolences go out to the family and friends of James Steven Swarzman. My thoughts and prayers are with them following this tragic San Diego car accident.
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