California Injury Blog

Published on: February 22, 2011

Woman Killed in South Los Angeles Car Accident

By Brian Chase

Dadream Patrice Thomas, 28, was killed in a Los Angeles car accident, which police report, involved a drunk teen driver. According to a news report in The Press-Telegram, the fatal DUI collision occurred on the 110 Freeway near the 105 Freeway in South Los Angeles early morning on February 18, 2011. California Highway Patrol officials say Thomas was involved in a crash with her Dodge Intrepid. Shortly after that initial accident the Dodge was struck by a Honda travelling at about 65 mph and driven by an 18-year-old driver. Thomas died at the scene of the accident while a teen passenger in the Honda suffered moderate injuries. The female driver of the Honda was arrested on suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated.

My heartfelt condolences go out to the family and friends of Dadream Patrice Thomas following this tragic DUI collision. My thoughts and prayers are also with the injured victim. I wish her the very best for a speedy and complete recovery.

DUI Statistics

According to California Highway Patrol’s 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), 105 people were killed and 2,252 were injured in Los Angles DUI collisions. During the same year, there were 258 fatalities and 4,832 injuries reported involving alcohol-related crashes in Los Angeles County.
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Published on: February 21, 2011

DUI Collision in Riverside Leaves Two Critically Injured

By Brian Chase

Two people were critically injured in a three-vehicle car accident in Riverside, which officials say, was caused by a suspected drunk driver. According to a news report in The Press-Enterprise, the injury car accident occurred on the Highway 60 at Valley Way in Rubidoux the night of February 11, 2011. California Highway Patrol officials said two of the vehicles involved in the accident were burned and two individuals sustained critical injuries. Officials attributed the accident to a “possible felony DUI.” Two people were taken to area trauma centers and five others were transported to local hospitals with unspecified injuries.

My heart goes out to everyone in this car accident who has been injured. I wish the injured victims the very best for a quick and complete recovery. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

DUI Statistics

According to California Highway Patrol’s 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), 52 people died and 426 were injured as a result of DUI collisions in the unincorporated areas of Riverside County. Also, countywide, 101 deaths and 1,090 injuries were reported involving alcohol-related car accidents in 2008.
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Published on: February 21, 2011

Keep Your Kids Safe: Avoiding Brain Injury

By Brian Chase

Parents are constantly on the look out for how to keep their children safe. Kids, on the other hand, believe themselves to be brave and unstoppable, and often make daring moves that end in minor injuries. Sometimes, more serious brain injury results from a variety of situations children are involved in. Parents can consider the following to help avoid accidents that cause brain damage.

Remember to teach your children how to act around or inside vehicles. When crossing streets, talk about the steps of stopping, looking both ways before crossing, and using crosswalks. Teach them to be aware of their surroundings, especially the actions of nearby vehicle. Inside cars, babies and young children must be harnessed in car seats, and older children must wear their seatbelts. Before operating the vehicle, make sure everyone is “strapped in.”
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Published on: February 19, 2011

Woman Killed in Riverside Car Accident

By Brian Chase

Janel Smith, 44, was killed in a Riverside car accident after the vehicle in which she was a passenger made a sudden left turn and crashed into an oncoming car. According to a news report in The Press-Enterprise, the fatal car accident occurred the morning of February 11, 2011 on Grand Avenue in the unincorporated Lakeland Village area, near Lake Elsinore. Smith was riding in the back seat of a 1990 Thunderbird whose driver, 56-year-old Edward Temple, pulled into the two-way center lane on Grand and turned directly in front of an oncoming Oldsmobile driven by 29-year-old Luke Argeanton.

Smith was partially ejected through the rear window of the Thunderbird. She was transported to an area hospital where she was pronounced dead. Four others suffered moderate injuries. An investigation is ongoing.

Car Accident Statistics

According to California Highway Patrol’s 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), 121 fatalities and 2,615 injuries were reported involving car accidents in the unincorporated areas of Riverside County. Also, in Riverside County as a whole, 220 people died and 8,561 were injured as a result of car accidents during the same year.
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Published on: February 17, 2011

Los Angeles Car Accident Causes Injuries

By Brian Chase

One person was injured in a Los Angeles car accident after a high-speed collision on the 134 Freeway the night of February 16, 2011. According to a City News Service report, the injury car accident occurred on the freeway near San Fernando Road when a Nissan Maxima travelling at more than 100 mph crashed into the center divider and then struck an SUV. The SUV flipped over and one person was hospitalized with unknown injuries. California Highway Patrol officials are investigating the cause of this car accident.

My heart goes out to the injured victim of this car accident. I sincerely hope he or she makes a speedy and complete recovery, and that the injuries are not major or catastrophic.

Car Accidents

According to California Highway Patrol’s 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were six fatalities and 725 injuries involving Glendale car accidents. In Los Angeles County as a whole, 667 people died and 52,229 were injured in car accidents during the same year.
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Published on: February 16, 2011

Riverside Hit-and-Run Car Accident Causes Injuries

By Brian Chase

A Riverside car accident, involving a hit-and-run driver traveling at more than 100 mph, resulted in injuries, The Press-Enterprise reports. California Highway Patrol officials say the hit-and-run car accident occurred on the Columbia Avenue off-ramp of southbound Interstate 215 in Riverside the night of February 14, 2011. Witnesses observed a silver or dark grey Ford F-150 travelling erratically at a high rate of speed and crash into a car on the off ramp.

The car struck by the Ford pickup overturned and the occupants suffered injuries. It is unclear how many people were in the vehicle or how severely they were hurt. Police are searching for the hit-and-run driver and the Ford truck involved in this accident. The pickup was last seen just north of Box Springs Road outside Moreno Valley.

My thoughts and prayers are with the injured victims of this Riverside hit-and-run car accident. I wish them the very best for a complete and speedy recovery.

Riverside Car Accident Statistics

According to CHP’s 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), 19 people were killed and 1,618 were injured in Riverside car accidents. During that same year, 220 fatalities and 8,561 injuries occurred involving car accidents in Riverside County.
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Published on: February 15, 2011

85-Year-Old Man Killed in San Diego Pedestrian Accident

By Brian Chase

Manuel Alba, an 85-year-old Ramona man, was killed in a San Diego car accident after he was struck by a pickup truck while crossing the street. According to the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s report, the fatal car accident occurred the morning of February 11, 2011 at the intersection of Main Street and 7th Street in Ramona. Alba was crossing the street at the intersection when a truck pulling a wood chipper hit him. The critically injured pedestrian was transported to a local hospital where he died. An investigation is ongoing.

My deepest condolences go out to the family and friends of Manuel Alba for their tragic and heartbreaking loss. My thoughts and prayers are with them during this difficult time.

Pedestrian Accident Statistics

According to California Highway Patrol’s 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), 13 people were killed and 80 were injured due to pedestrian accidents in the unincorporated areas of San Diego County. During that same year, there were 63 fatalities and 998 injuries reported as a result of pedestrian accidents in San Diego County.
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Published on: February 14, 2011

Off-Duty Fire Captain Killed in San Bernardino Motorcycle Accident

By Brian Chase

Gabriel Pomona, 36, a U.S. Forest Service fire captain, was killed in a San Bernardino car accident after a pickup truck making a left turn struck his motorcycle at a street intersection. According to a news report in The Press-Enterprise, the fatal motorcycle accident occurred the evening of February 11, 2011 at the intersection of North Shore Drive and Tinkerbell Avenue in Big Bear. Officials say the pickup truck driver turned in front of the oncoming motorcycle. An investigation is ongoing.

I offer my deepest sympathies to Gabriel Pomona’s wife, Summer, his other family members and friends. Pomona had apparently been a crew captain for the Big Bear Hotshots since 2008. He was also involved with the community and participated in Christmas bike drives for Inland Empire children. This is certainly a tragic loss! Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

Motorcycle Accident Statistics

According to California Highway Patrol’s 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were no fatalities, but two injuries in the Big Bear Lake area due to motorcycle accidents. In San Bernardino County as a whole, 34 people died and 532 were injured in motorcycle accidents during the same year.
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Published on: February 14, 2011

Family Dynamics and the Older Driver

By Brian Chase

The Following article on California Injury Blog is a guest post from KeepingUsSafe.org.

Last fall, I received a telephone call from a very troubled and frustrated young lady (“Mary”), pleading that I provide her with some resolution to what has developed into a family battle.

The battle involves a family debate over the driving abilities of their 83-year-old father. Mary says her family has become completely divided on the issue, some thinking her father is fine to continue driving, and some afraid that he is going to cause a terrible accident if he doesn’t stop driving immediately.
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Published on: February 13, 2011

Orange County Pedestrian Accident Proves Fatal

By Brian Chase

A 42-year-old man was killed in an Orange County car accident after he was struck by an SUV while crossing a roadway. According to a City News Service report, the fatal pedestrian accident occurred the evening of February 5, 2011 near the intersection of Harbor Boulevard and McFadden Avenue in Santa Ana. The pedestrian was crossing Harbor when a white Chevrolet Suburban hit him. He died at the scene. Officials say the man was not in a crosswalk at the time of the accident, and that alcohol or drugs were not a factor. An investigation is ongoing.

I offer my deepest condolences to the family members and friends of this deceased car accident victim. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

Pedestrian Accidents

According to California Highway Patrol’s 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were three fatalities and 123 injuries involving pedestrian accidents in Santa Ana. In Orange County as a whole, 31 people died and 785 were injured in pedestrian accidents during the same year.
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