A man from the Salem, Oregon area has died from injuries he suffered in a three-vehicle collision on Highway 97 near Sunriver, Oregon, according to Oregonlive.com, on February 21, 2011. Oregon State Police are in the process of investigating the crash in which eight other people were hurt.

In an Oregon State Police news release, at about 3:10pm on Saturday February 19, Stacy Cordaway, age 48 of Shingle Springs, California, was driving north on Highway 97 near milepost 154 when his 2006 Nissan pickup went out of control and crashed into a southbound 1986 Suzuki Samari SUV being driven by Herbert E. Kroschel III, age 41 of Salem, Oregon. Kroschel’s SUV went over the guardrail and down an embankment. Kroschel was transported in critical condition to St. Charles Medical Center in Bend, Oregon where he died the next day of his injuries.

After colliding with Kroscel’s SUV, Cordaway’s vehicle then smashed into a 2006 Suzuki Sidekick SUV, being driven south by Leland J. Wilson, age 55 of Tigard, Oregon. Read More

Two people who were killed in a hit-and-run car accident in Riverside the morning of February 23, 2011 have been identified as Chris Caldwell, 26, and Luciano Cervantes, 44. The Press-Enterprise reports that the fatal car accident happened at the intersection of Cornell Street and Stetson Avenue in Hemet, when 25-year-old Shane Albatross Stanscheit ran a stop sign at the intersection and crashed his pickup truck into another.

Cervantes, who was the driver of the other pickup truck was fatally injured as was Caldwell, who was a passenger in Stanscheit's vehicle. Cervantes' wife and three children suffered minor injuries. Stanscheit fled the scene of the crash on foot, but was arrested shortly afterward. He was charged with two counts of vehicular manslaughter and one count of felony hit-and-run. An investigation is ongoing.

I offer my deepest condolences to the family members and friends of Cervantes and Caldwell for their devastating loss. Please keep these grieving families in your thoughts and prayers. Read More

A car accident in San Francisco resulted in major injuries for an elderly woman who was hit by a vehicle while crossing a roadway in a marked crosswalk. CBS News reports that the injury pedestrian accident occurred at the intersection of Park Presido Boulevard and Anza Street in San Francisco the afternoon of February 22, 2011 when a 92-year-old driver turned his vehicle from Anza and hit the woman in the crosswalk. She was transported to an area hospital with critical injuries. Officials are looking into the cause of this tragic accident.

I sympathize with this injured victim and her family for what they are going through at this time. I pray that she recovers quickly and completely from whatever injuries she has sustained.

Injury and Fatality Statistics

In the city of San Francisco, 35 people were killed and 3,577 were injured as a result of car accidents in 2008,according to California Highway Patrol’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS). Also, during the same year, 16 people were killed and 790 were injured in San Francisco pedestrian accidents. Read More

A car accident in Los Angeles resulted in major injuries for a 17-year-old female pedestrian the evening of February 21, 2011. The San Gabriel Valley Tribune reports that the girl was walking near the intersection of Glendora Avenue and Sierra Vista Court in La Puente in a marked crosswalk when she was struck by a vehicle driven by Jose Alvaro, 67. The girl suffered critical injuries and was taken to an area trauma center. Alvaro was booked on suspicion of DUI and driving without a license.

I hope and pray that this teenager recovers quickly and completely from whatever injuries she has sustained. My heart goes out to this young victim and her family.

DUI Statistics

There were two fatalities and 11 injuries involving DUI collision in La Puente, according to California Highway Patrol’s 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS). In Los Angeles County as a whole, 258 people died and 4,832 were injured as a result of alcohol-related crashes during the same year. Read More

A 61-year-old man was killed and many others sustained critical injuries in a San Bernardino County bus accident the morning of February 21, 2011. The Pasadena Star-News reports that the Won Chae, the driver of the bus, which was carrying 18 teenagers and four adults, was killed in the accident.

Serious Injuries

The injury collision occurred between the Light of Love Korean Mission Church bus and a San Bernardino County Fire Department vehicle on Highway 189 near Lake Gregory Drive. The bus then fell down the side of the highway. Two people sustained critical injuries and 10 others, including an off-duty firefighter and his wife who were in the other vehicle, were hospitalized with serious injuries. Officials are investigating the cause of this horrific crash.

My heart goes out to Won Chae's family and to everyone who was injured in this terrible accident. Apparently, the students on this bus were returning home to Pasadena after spending time at a winter retreat in the San Bernardino Mountains. My prayers are not only with Chae's family and the injured victims, but also the church's congregants who must be absolutely traumatized by this incident. Read More

A car accident in Orange County proved fatal for a 50-year-old bicyclist the evening of February 16, 2011. The Orange County Register reports that the fatal bicycle accident occurred at the intersection of Brookhurst Street and Niagara River Avenue in Fountain Valley, when the victim, who was reportedly either walking or pedaling his bike, was hit by a Volkswagen Beetle. The man was pronounced dead at the scene while the other driver sustained minor injuries. An investigation is ongoing.

My heartfelt sympathies go out to everyone who knew and loved this accident victim. This grieving family will be in my thoughts and prayers. Read More

A car accident may only take a few seconds, but its impact can last a lifetime. In the minutes following a car accident, the involved parties are shaken and may be in a minor state of shock. However, the steps you take following a car accident can make all the difference while speaking with the authorities and dealing with the insurance company.

There are several actions you can take to speed up the process and get back to your life if you have been involved in a car accident. Read More

A car accident in Anaheim involving several vehicles resulted in injuries for at least two people, The Orange County Register reports. Officials say the car accident occurred the night of February 14, 2011 at the intersection of La Palma Avenue and North Euclid Street. Authorities are still looking into what caused this car accident.

I hope none of the victims of this car accident suffered major injuries. I wish them the very best for a swift and full recovery. They will be in my prayers.

Car Accidents

There were 152 deaths and 13,414 injuries reported as a result of
Orange County car accidents, according to California Highway Patrol’s 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS). In the city of Anaheim, 21 people were killed and 2,018 were injured as a result of car accidents in 2008. Read More

A car accident in San Bernardino, which police say involved a hit-and-run driver, proved fatal for 23-year-old motorcyclist, Josue Ceja. The Inland Valley Daily Bulletin reports that the fatal car accident occurred at the intersection of Foothill Boulevard and Citrus Avenue in Fontana the night of February 13, 2011. Ceja's motorcycle was struck by a vehicle that was making a left turn at the intersection. Officials say the driver of the vehicle did not stop. Ceja sustained fatal injuries.

My heartfelt sympathies go out to everyone who knew and loved Josue Ceja. His grieving family will certainly be in my thoughts and prayers.

Hit-and-Run Car Accidents

According to the California Highway Patrol's traffic accident statistics, there were 17,158 hit-and-run car accidents that resulted in fatalities or injuries in California in 2008. A majority of these car accidents involved injuries. There were a total of 247 deaths in 2008 involving hit-and-run car accidents statewide. Read More

Trench collapses are unfortunate accidents that often result in the loss of life. When this occurs, the family members that have lost a loved one likely have merit in bringing a wrongful death lawsuit against any liable parties whose negligence played a role in the trench collapse accident. Midland work injury attorney Michael Grossman offers the following short informative article on trench collapses and the types of damages that can be sought in a wrongful death claim brought as a result of a loved one’s death due to a trench collapse Read More