San Bernardino – Heather Plazak, a 30 year old resident of Tampa, Florida, died when she was struck by a car while jogging.

The tragic accident occurred on Thursday at 12:50 p.m in Angeles Oaks.  Plazak was jogging along Highway 38 on the eastbound side at mile marker 29.  She was apparently struck from behind by Loma Linda resident, Robert Harold Smith, 59.  He was driving a 2000 Ford F-150 truck on Highway 38.  He struck her near Jenks Lake Road East.

Location of Heather Plazak Pedestrian Accident

Sadly, Plazak was pronounced dead at the scene.  She was an employee of Camp Edwards in Angeles Oaks, a YMCA camp located at 42842 Jenks Road East.  It is unclear if Smith failed to see her or was under the influence.  California Highway Patrol is investigating.

Robert Harold Smith, and his car insurance company, are almost certainly civilly liable for the wrongful death of Ms. Plazak, a pedestrian.  California law gives right of way to all pedestrians on roads.  Drivers have a duty to drive with reasonable care, and to always look for pedestrians or other potential hazards.   This is a terrible, tragic and avoidable collision which will leave both the driver and victim’s family with pain for years to come.

Read more at our Orange County Personal Injury Attorneys website

Westminster – Chuyen Nguyen of Westminster died today after she was struck by a car in a parking lot last night.

The accident happened around 10 p.m. Wednesday night in the Saigon City Supermarket parking lot, on the corner of Brookhurst Street and McFadden Avenue.  Nguyen, 74, and her husband were walking in the parking lot when she was hit by a driver who was backing out of their parking spot.

Nguyen was rushed to UCI Medical Center in the city of Orange but sadly, she succumbed to her injuries at 2:30 p.m. Thursday afternoon.  The driver who hit her was a 61 year old male who stayed behind to give his account of what happened to the police.

Pedestrians have right of way in California, even in parking lots.  The driver of the car that struck her, and his insurance company, are certainly liable for the wrongful death of Ms. Nguyen.  Her husband, and any children she may have, are all potential claimants again the insurance company.  El Dabe Law Firm gives condolences to the family of the victim of this terrible accident.

Read more at our Orange County Personal Injury Attorneys website

Burbank – Otto Jensen died on Tuesday as he was crossing the street in Burbank.

The accident happened at 8:20 p.m. at the intersection of Olive Avenue and Griffith Park Drive.  Jensen was hit by a 91 year old female driver, Mary Beaumont, who was driving her sedan.

Jensen was immediately taken to Saint Joseph’s Medical Center on Buena Vista Avenue where the famed photographer was pronounced dead.  He was a 101 years old. Jensen was a well known photographer in the entertainment business, taking pictures of stars and casts and was still operating his photography studio at the time of the accident.  He was featured in the city of Burbank’s “Voices” paper due to his interesting life.  Last year he served as the grand marshall of Burbank’s Centennial Parade.  He was well known in his community and also well known in the Danish since he was born in Denmark.  .Jensen will surely be missed by many in the community and in the entertainment business.

According to police, although the crosswalk was not marked, Jensen had the legal right of way.  Beaumont was questioned and released after the accident which is still under investigation.  Beaumont is also a prominent citizen of the community, actively involved with the public library board of trustees.  It remains to be seen why the accident happened and if Beaumont will be charged.

Read more at our Orange County Personal Injury Attorneys website

Ludlow – Mariano Orendain of Arizona died early this morning in a rollover car crash in San Bernardino County in the Mojave Desert.

The accident happened at 5:15 a.m.  Orendain was in the passenger seat of a 2004 Dodge 1500 truck.

The truck was traveling on the westbound side of Interstate 40 (Needles Freeway) just west of Crucero Road when it allegedly lost control, rolled over and landed on the shoulder of the road.

Sadly, Orendain, who was wearing a seatbelt at the time died at the scene. He was only 50 years old.  The driver, who has not been identified, was taken to a local hospital.

Barstow Highway Patrol is investigating.  It is not clear if alcohol played a part or what exactly caused the accident.

Read more at our Orange County Personal Injury Attorneys website

Norco – Norco resident, John Neil Cupp, was involved in a motorcycle accident which took his life Saturday morning.

The accident occurred at 8:26 a.m. in Riverside County at the intersection of River Road and Trail Street.   According to reports, Cupp was going southbound on River Road when a van turned left in front of his motorcycle.  Although Cupp was wearing his helmet, he unfortunately succumbed to his injuries later at Corona Regional Medical Center.

The accident is currently under investigation.  It is not known if the driver of the van was intoxicated at the time or what caused the driver to turn left.

Read more at our Orange County Personal Injury Attorneys website

Chatsworth – William Lovvorn of Simi Valley died earlier today when his motorcycle crashed into the back of a Jeep.

The accident happened at 12:15 a.m. in the 10700 block of Topanga Canyon Boulevard in Chatsworth.  Lovvorn was in the right hand lane driving a black 2007 Suzuki when he reportedly rear-ended a 2001 Jeep Wrangler.  Lovvorn who is only 28 years old died at the scene while the driver of the Jeep walked away unharmed.

Details of the accident are unknown as it is under investigation by local police.  It is not known whether the driver of the Jeep did anything to contribute to the accident or whether the driver of the jeep was driving under the influence.

Read more at our Orange County Personal Injury Attorneys website

On Wednesday, 30 year old Riverside resident, Jonathan E. Maxwell was killed in a two car collision in Riverside County.

The accident happened on Wednesday after midnight on Iowa Avenue south of Main Street.  Maxwell was in the passenger seat of a vehicle when it was hit head-on by another vehicle.  Details are sparse and authorities are still investigating what caused the accident.

Maxwell was immediately taken to Loma Linda University but succumbed to his injuries on Thursday.

Read more at our Orange County Personal Injury Attorneys website

Lake Elsinore – A 47 year old man driving a motorcycle was killed when an SUV turned left into its path Thursday afternoon.

The accident occurred at 2:46 p.m. in Lake Elsinore in the 31500 block of Grape Street.  The motorcyclist was in the far left lane on Grape Street, just south of Railroad Canyon Drive, when a mid-size SUV struck it.  The motorcycle was T-boned by the SUV which was turning left and the driver died at the scene.

The driver of the SUV was taken to a local hospital.  The motorcyclist was identified as Nicholas Soltz of Wildomar, CA.

Read more at our Orange County Personal Injury Attorneys website

Long Beach – Sonia Esperanza Rodriguez, 54 year old mother, was killed in a car accident this morning only one day after celebrating Mother’s Day.

The accident happened at 9:13 a.m. in Long Beach at the busy intersection of Pacific Coast Highway and Martin Luther King Avenue.  The Chevy Blazer which Rodriguez was a passenger in was on the eastbound side of PCH making a left turn onto Martin Luther King Avenue when it hit a semi truck that was traveling in the opposite direction.  Sadly, Esperanza and the driver of the Blazer were not wearing their seatbelts.  The driver and Esperanza were both ejected from their car which is when Esperanza was fatally struck by the semi.  A second passenger, a 21 year old male, who was in the backseat walked away with minor injuries.

The 29 year old Valencia resident who was driving the semi was questioned by police and released.  The intersection was closed for most of the day for further investigation.

Read more at our Orange County Personal Injury Attorneys website

LYNWOOD – Yesterday, Geronimo Hernandez died in a fatal car accident on the 105 Freeway in Los Angeles County.

The accident occurred on the westbound side of the freeway in Lynwood around 9:40 p.m and involved multiple cars.  Hernandez, 68, was in the passenger seat of a 2008 Toyota Tundra driven by a 48 year old Lawndale woman who was allegedly drunk driving.  According to California Highway Patrol, the Tundra suddenly swerved and struck a tow truck that was in the process of helping stopped vehicle.  The Tundra went on to hit a 2012 Lexus SUV and a 1993 Chevy El Camino but no one else was seriously injured.

Unfortunately, Hernandez was not wearing his seatbelt and was ejected from the car.  He was taken to Saint Francis Medical Center where he succumbed to his injuries.

Read more at our Orange County Personal Injury Attorneys website