California Injury Blog
Meghan Wautlet, 22, was killed in a motorcycle accident in Huntington Beach after officials say the motorcycle on which she was a passenger collided with another vehicle.
According to a City News Service report, the crash occurred the night of Sept. 11 on Pacific Coast Highway between Warner Avenue and the entrance to the Bolsa Chica State Beach. Wautlet was pronounced dead at the scene.
Ongoing Investigation
A preliminary investigation shows Wautlet was a passenger on a 2019 Harley Davidson Street Bob driven by 21-year-old John Murray III when it collided with a 2015 Mazda CX-5. Murray sustained significant injuries was transported to a hospital, police said. Investigators said the motorcycle was going south on PCH when it struck the Mazda as it was completing a legal U-turn from the northbound side of PCH to the southbound lanes.
Based on their preliminary investigation, police say the motorcycle may have been traveling at a high rate of speed. The driver of the Mazda, a 41-year-old Beaumont woman, remained at the scene. Drugs or alcohol were not factors in the crash, police said. Anyone who witnessed this fatal crash is asked to call Huntington Beach police at 714-536-5670 or 714-536-5231.
We offer our deepest condolences to the family members of Meghan Wautlet for their tragic and heartbreaking loss. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
Liability Issues
Based on this news report, this fatal crash is still under investigation and a number of details remain unclear. A number of such crashes involving motorcycles and vehicles occur when other drivers are making left turns or U-turns at intersections because they fail to see the oncoming motorcycle. In such cases, the drivers can be held liable for injuries caused to the motorcyclists and their passengers.
If the accident was the motorcyclist’s fault, his or her passenger can seek compensation from the motorcyclist’s insurance company. In the case of a fatal crash, the family members of the deceased victims can file what is known as a wrongful death lawsuit seeking compensation for damages such as medical expenses, funeral costs, lost future income, pain and suffering, and loss of love, care and companionship. An experienced Huntington Beach motorcycle accident attorney will stay on top of the official investigation and make sure victims’ and their families’ rights are protected.
Source: https://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/news/story/2021-09-13/coroner-identifies-woman-killed-in-huntington-beach-motorcycle-crash