California Injury Blog
Two people were killed and six others, including two children, were injured when a large truck crashed on State Route 125 in La Mesa. According to an NBC news report, California Highway Patrol officials say the big rig was getting onto the southbound SR 125 from the westbound Interstate 8 the afternoon of August 3, 2017 when the truck driver lost control. The driver crashed through the metal guardrail on the freeway- crossing lane on the northbound SR-125 before smashing into a concrete divider wall.
Injuries and Fatalities
The big rig plowed into a green Chevy Aveo that was traveling in the fast lane on the northbound SR-125 transition ramp and then hit a black Kia Sorrento traveling in the No. 3 lane. Both the Chevy and the Kia were badly damaged from the impact. Two women, identified as Nancy Bauerlein, 57, and her daughter Jennifer Thompson-Campbell, 29, were killed in the crash.
Six others, including two children and four adults were injured. Some were transported to area hospitals. One of the children, a 6-year-old girl, had reportedly suffered abroken neck and wasn’t breathing when paramedics arrived at the scene. Swift Transportation owned the big rig, and the company has said it is also investigating the incident. CHP’s investigation is ongoing. Officials have said the driver of the big rig, a 34-year-old Georgia woman, was not under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs at the time of the incident. No arrests or citations have been reported.
Our heartfelt condolences go out to the family members of the deceased victims. We also wish the injured victims the very best for a speedy and complete recovery.
Fault and Liability
Based on this news report, it is still not clear how or why the driver of the big rig lost control of the vehicle. Even though officials have said there was no indication of impaired driving, there are still a number of unanswered questions with regard to what caused this crash. Was the truck driver distracted at the time she lost control of the big rig? Was the driver speeding or driving recklessly? Was there some type of defect or mechanical malfunction in the big rig? We trust officials are looking into these and other issues in order to determine precisely what occurred here and why.
In this case, if the driver is determined to have been negligent, both she and her employer could be held liable for the injuries, damages and losses caused. If a lack of proper vehicle maintenance caused the crash, the trucking company could be held accountable. An experienced California truck accident lawyer will be able to analyze all aspects of the incident and help ensure that all negligent parties are held liable and that victims and their families receive maximum compensation for their losses.