Automobile Accidents
Man Checking Disabled Vehicle Killed In 101 Brisbane Crash May 10, 2011
BRISBANE — An 18-year-old San Ramon man reported missing and thought to be suicidal crashed into a stopped pickup on Highway 101 this morning, killing the San Jose man who had gotten out to examine his vehicle, the California Highway Patrol said.
The victim, 54, was in the southbound lanes past Sierra Point Parkway and pulled to the shoulder after experiencing mechanical troubles, said Officer Shawn Chase.
He got out and walked around to the front of his Dodge Ram pickup when a Toyota Camry rear-ended the truck, causing it to strike the San Jose man, throwing him 75 feet, Chase said. He died at the scene.
The Camry driver, Theodore Liang, 18, was not injured. He was being questioned by investigators this morning but is not in custody, Chase said. He added that the man was reported missing in San Ramon and considered possibly suicidal this morning.
Liang was reported missing about 6:35 a.m. today by his brother, San Ramon police said. His brother reported Liang may be “at-risk” and was driving a 2005 silver Toyota Camry. The CHP notified San Ramon police at about 9:45 a.m. they found Liang and the Camry involved in a crash.
While initial evidence suggests that the driver did not slow down before crashing, investigators have not determined whether the collision was on purpose or an accident.
“It’s still early in the investigation,” Chase said.
The crash caused the gas tank of the pickup to rupture and firefighters were summoned to tend to the leaked fuel. Traffic was narrowed from four to two lanes for two-and-a-half hours while emergency and road crews cleared the roadway, snarling traffic during the morning commute.
Cause of the Brisbane Accident: Based on the limited information provided in news accounts, it is unclear what exactly happened. This accident raises a number of questions and it is not evident why the driver was not able to avoid the collision. Was the driver not paying attention? Police will surely look at speed and other factors in determining the cause of the accident. Hopefully, the investigation will reveal exactly what happened and who was responsible. If the investigation reveals that the driver of the car caused this collision, the driver maybe liable for the victim’s injuries, in which case, the victim’s heirs may be entitled to damages for medical expenses, lost earnings, pain and suffering, and other accident-related expenses .The family members of the victim would be well advised to contact California Wrongful Death Attorney Gary A. Kessler about their legal rights in a wrongful death claims.
Victims ID’d in crash that killed 4 in La Habra
LA HABRA – Four people died and two others were injured when a pickup truck slammed into a tree early Sunday.
The truck was found wrapped around the tree with the roof smashed down to the doors and beer cans strewn about, said Capt. Paul Schifando of La Habra Fire Station 193.
Just after 1 a.m., six people in their 20s were speeding northbound on Walnut Avenue in a black Chevrolet Colorado, Schifando said. The driver lost control and the truck went skiing on two wheels diagonally across Walnut before jumping the opposing curb and smacking into a three-story-tall tree.
Four people were pronounced dead at the scene – the driver, David Huizar Jr., 22, of La Habra; Jimmy Gonzales, 22, of Buena Park; Paul Romero, 25, of Fullerton; and Delora Bravo, 22, of La Habra; said Cindy Knapp, La Habra police spokeswoman.
Two women, Destiney Mendoza, 25, of La Habra, and Rochelle Romero, 21, of La Habra, were injured in the accident, Knapp said. The women were taken to UCI Medical Center in Orange for treatment, one by helicopter and the other by ambulance. Both women are in critical condition and remain in the hospital.
Neighbors, awakened by the crash, tried to get the victims out. Thomas Snider, 20, lives across the street from where the truck hit. He was getting ready for bed when he heard a “shallow boom.”
“I didn’t even think about it, man, I just ran out. I tried to get the people out,” Snider said.
Snider tried to get the passenger doors open. The driver’s side is the side that collided with the tree.
“The door handles just popped off,” Snider said.
A passenger, a female, was conscious and crying, according to another neighbor, Maria Castillo.
Three paramedics, two fire engines, one air ambulance, two ambulances, an information officer, a battalion chief and a multi-vehicle accident rescue truck responded to the scene, Schifando said.
Firefighters found the truck wrapped around the tree with the roof smashed down to the door level. Bud Light cans were found in the car, Schifando said.
The truck was so badly mangled that crews used two Jaws of Life to cut away the roof, piece by piece. Schifando said it took 20 minutes to rescue the first victim and another 10 minutes for the second victim.
Early reports indicate that only the driver was wearing a seatbelt, with three people sitting in the front bench seat and three people in the back, Schifando said. No one was ejected from the vehicle.
A tow truck was used to dislodge the truck from the tree. Now all that remains is a bark-stripped tree and a diagonal line of a black skidmark tracing the truck’s deadly path on Walnut, past the stop sign intersection at Las Lomas Drive and Walnut where the road dips.
Early information shows the truck was speeding before the accident, but the rate of speed has not yet been calculated, said La Habra Police Sgt. Jeff Baylos. Toxicology reports will determine if alcohol was a factor.
Pedestrian killed on Anaheim street overnight
ANAHEIM – A woman was struck and killed by an SUV while crossing La Palma Avenue late Thursday night, Anaheim police reported.
Paramedics took the woman to UCI Medical Center in Orange, where she died about a half-hour after the 11:16 p.m. accident, Sgt. Bob Dunn said. Orange County Coroners Office officials on Friday afternoon identified the woman as Noemi Tejeda, 32, of Anaheim.
Police said the Tejeda was crossing La Palma just west of East Street, outside of the marked crosswalk. Just before she got to the other side, Tejeda was struck by a Nissan SUV, suffering massive trauma.
The SUV’s driver stopped and cooperated with authorities, Dunn said. The accident is under investigation, but police say drugs and alcohol are not believed to be a factor, and no arrests were made
Cause of the Anaheim Pedestrian Accident: Based on the limited information provided in news accounts, it is unclear what exactly happened. This accident raises a number of questions and it is not evident why the driver was not able to avoid the collision. Was the driver not paying attention? Police will surely look at speed and other factors in determining the cause of the accident. Hopefully, the investigation will reveal exactly what happened and who was responsible. If the investigation reveals that the driver of the car caused this collision, the driver maybe liable for the victim’s injuries, in which case, the victim’s heirs may be entitled to damages for medical expenses, lost earnings, pain and suffering, and other accident-related expenses.The family members of the victim would be well advised to contact California Wrongful Death Attorney Gary A. Kessler about their legal rights in a wrongful death claims.
Vehicle Crashes into I-5 Fwy Wall
ANAHEIM – The driver of an Oldsmobile Alero escaped injuries after crashing into a freeway wall Wednesday afternoon on the southbound I-5.
The crash was reported to the California Highway Patrol at 11:55 a.m. and briefly blocked the State College Boulevard off-ramp.
The driver, not injured, was reportedly driving recklessly before the crash, witnesses told the CHP.
BRUCE CHAMBERS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
