California Injury Blog

Published on: March 20, 2014

Man Killed in Irvine Motorcycle Accident

By Brian Chase

Paul Tapalla, 22, of Montclair, was killed in an Irvine motorcycle accident after crashing into a tree.

According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the fatal crash occurred the night of March 17, 2014 near Main Street and Paseo Westpark.

Police say the motorcycle seemed to have lost control and hit a sign and a tree. No other vehicles seemed to have been involved, police said.

However, officials are still looking into what caused Tapalla to lose control of his motorcycle. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Irvine Police Department’s major accident investigation team is investigating the crash.
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Published on: March 17, 2014

Blood Test Offers Quicker Brain Injury Diagnosis

By Brian Chase

Swedish researchers have devised a blood test that could better diagnose traumatic brain injuries such as concussions.

According to a Reuters news report, this discovery could prevent athletes to return to the field when they are in danger of suffering further serious injury.

Researchers say their method can show just an hour after the head injury how severe the concussion is, regardless of whether there is the risk of long-term symptoms.

In contact sports such as football, repeated concussions are common where the brain has not healed completely after the first blow. This type of injury is particularly dangerous.
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Published on: March 13, 2014

Los Angeles County Health Department Stalled Nursing Home Investigations

By Brian Chase

A report by Kaiser Health News states that Los Angeles public health officials instructed their inspectors to close nursing home neglect and abuse cases without fully or properly investigating them. According to the report, officials did so as part of their effort to reduce the backlog of nursing home health and safety complaints. The effort, which was known as “Complaint Workload Clean Up Project” had been ongoing since the summer of 2012, according to memos circulated among managers, inspectors and supervisors at the department. Nearly one-third of the 1,286 nursing homes in California are in Los Angeles County.
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Published on: March 13, 2014

Two Dozen Children Injured after Stage Collapse in Anaheim School

By Brian Chase

At least 24 students were injured after a stage at Servite High School collapsed during an annual rally.

According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the incident occurred the night of March 8, 2014.

The wooden stage collapsed as 250 Rosary High School’s students were performing in the school’s annual Red and Gold rally. An additional 200 to 250 parents and students were in the audience at the time.

Officials said 24 students were Continue reading →

Published on: March 8, 2014

Man in Wheelchair Injured in Fullerton Traffic Accident

By Brian Chase

A man in a wheelchair was seriously injured in a Fullerton car accident after a vehicle struck him the night of March 3, 2014.

According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the incident occurred in the 2400 block of West Orangethorpe Avenue. Officials say the wheelchair-bound man was crossing from the north to the south side of Orangethorpe when a vehicle that was traveling east struck him. The man was transported to an area trauma center. The driver remained at the scene.

Investigators are looking into who had the right-of-way. Officials say Continue reading →

Published on: March 7, 2014

7-year-old Killed in Hesperia Pedestrian Accident

By Brian Chase

Taylor Chriswell, 7, was killed in a pedestrian accident in Hesperia. According to a CBS Los Angeles news report, the fatal collision occurred the morning of March 6, 2014 at Peach Street and Sycamore Avenue. Officials say the girl was crossing the street on her way to school when the car, a 2002 Chevy Impala, hit her. Officials do not believe that the driver was speeding or under the influence. Anyone with more information about this crash is asked to contact police at 760-947-1500.
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Published on: March 7, 2014

Santa Ana Hit-and-Run Crash Injures Teen Girl

By Brian Chase

Santa Ana police officers are looking for one of two drivers who they say struck and injured a teen girl as she was running through moving traffic. According to a CBS Los Angeles news report, the hit-and-run accident, which occurred March 3, 2014, was caught on camera at Santa Ana College at 17th and Bristol streets. Officials say the high school sophomore was technically at fault because she was running against the red light. However, the two drivers who hit her, one in a red truck and the other in a black sedan fled the scene after stopping briefly.
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Published on: February 27, 2014

Salma Hayek’s Brother Involved in Fatal Los Angeles Car Accident

By Brian Chase

Grammy Award-winning art director, 43-year-old Ian Cuttler Sala, was killed when a Ford GT driven by the brother of actress Salma Hayek was involved in a crash with a pickup truck on Sunset Boulevard the evening of February 23, 2104. According to a news report on NBC Southern California, police say Hayek lost control of the vehicle while traveling east on Sunset Boulevard and crossed into the westbound lanes crashing head-on with a Toyota Tacoma pickup truck.
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Published on: February 22, 2014

Girl Undergoes Surgery after Riverside County Dog Attack

By Brian Chase

A 10-year-old girl, who was bitten by a dog while waiting for her school bus, had to undergo surgery for bite marks on her face. According to a CBS Los Angeles news report, the incident occurred the morning of February 19, 2014 at the corner of 7th Street and West Drive in Desert Hot Springs. The girl was bitten twice by a 2-year-old Huskie mix named Ollie as she petted him. The girl and her mother were familiar with the dog. As she petted the dog while waiting for her bus, the dog turned and bit her. The girl got stitches after the incident. It is not clear who owns the dog.
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Published on: February 21, 2014

Bicyclist Killed in Huntington Beach DUI Hit-and-Run Collision

By Brian Chase

A suspected DUI driver was arrested after a hit-and-run crash in Huntington Beach that killed a 37-year-old male bicyclist. According to a KTLA News report, the incident occurred the night of February 19, 2014 near the intersection of Edwards Avenue and Ellis Avenue. Officials say a 2012 Toyota Camry and the bicyclist were both headed south when the bicyclist was struck by the sedan.

The bicyclist was riding in the bike lane when the car struck him. He was left in the roadway and pronounced dead at the scene. A witness told police that the vehicle fled the scene. The car’s front tire was found in the street. Officials tracked down the hit-and-run vehicle and arrested the driver, identified as 29-year-old Antonio Magdaleno Jr. of Oxnard. He was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and felony hit-and-run causing death.
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