A car accident in San Bernardino County resulted in fatal injuries for 66-year-old Alfred Eclipse Jr. The Press-Enterprise reports that the collision between Eclipse's UPS big rig and a Nissan 350z sports car, occurred the morning of January 25, 2012 on the 15 Freeway in Hesperia. California Highway Patrol officials say that a speeding Nissan went out of control and hit the truck's left wheel. The UPS truck rolled over and went down an embankment. Eclipse was pronounced dead at the scene. The Nissan's driver did not sustain life-threatening injuries. The investigation is ongoing.
I offer my heartfelt sympathies to everyone who knew and loved Alfred J. Eclipse Jr. for their devastating loss. This grieving family will be in my prayers.
San Bernardino Car Accident Statistics
There were 223 deaths and 7,870 injuries involving San Bernardino County car accidents, according to CHP's 2009 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS). During the same year, 10 people were killed and 221 were injured in Hesperia car accidents.
Laws and Liability Issues
If the details of this news report are accurate, it appears that the driver of the Nissan sports car was driving at an unsafe rate of speed at the time. California Vehicle Code Section 22350 (Basic Speed Law) states: "No person shall drive a vehicle upon a highway at a speed greater than is reasonable or prudent having due regard for weather, visibility, the traffic and on surface and width of, the highway, and in no event at a speed which endangers the safety of persons or property."
If the Nissan's driver is determined to have been at fault, he can be held liable for the victim's wrongful death. It would be in the best interests of victims' families in such cases to contact an experienced San Bernardino personal injury lawyer who will stay abreast of the official investigation and make sure that their legal rights and best interests are protected.
