A 50-year-old man, who was killed in a car accident in Los Angeles after being struck by a vehicle on the 210 Freeway the night of August 27, 2010, has been identified as Kevin Payne. The San Gabriel Valley Tribune reports that Payne was standing on the shoulder of the freeway in Glendora next to his Mercedes while having his disabled pickup truck hooked on to a tow truck. Read More

DUI Collision Proves Fatal for San Diego Man

A suspected DUI collision in San Diego proved fatal for 65-year-old Marc William Durham the night of August 20, 2010. The fatal accident occurred at the intersection of Camino del Norte and Carmel Mountain Road in Rancho Bernardo, 10news reports. A 57-year-old driver apparently rear-ended several vehicles that were stopped at a red light at the intersection. Durham was the driver of the car that was rear-ended first. Several other sustained minor injuries, officials said. Police are investigating the involvement of alcohol and/or drugs in this incident. Read More

The chef at a prominent Seaside restaurant was killed in a car accident, which officials say, was caused by a fatigued driver. According to a news report in The Monterey Herald, 58-year-old Ted Consoli was fatally injured the evening of July 30, 2010, when his 2004 BMW Z4 was hit by a Ford SUV on Holman Highway. Read More

A fatal bus crash in Fresno, which killed six and injured many others, may have been caused by excessive speed, according to a news report in The Fresno Bee. The July 22, 2010 collision occurred when a Greyhound bus driven by James Jewett, hit an SUV, which was overturned on Highway 99 as the result of a prior rollover crash. Jewett was killed in the accident, as were the three female occupants of the SUV. Officials have determined that Sylvia Lopez Garay, the SUV's driver was under the influence at the time of the collision. Read More

One person was killed and two others, all from Los Angeles, were injured in a Fresno car accident after their van crashed on the Interstate 5, the morning of July 27, 2010. According to a news report in The Fresno Bee, the accident, which happened near Coalinga, injured the driver, Jimmy Sanpakit, 68, of Arleta, and another passenger, Kuangrudee Kla-harn, 71, of Van Nuys. Their van was northbound on the freeway, close to Highway 145, when a tread separated from one of the tires. The driver lost control of the vehicle. A 68-year-old male passenger from North Hollywood sustained fatal injuries in this crash. His identity has not yet been released. An investigation is ongoing. Read More

Tonia Marie Evans, 44, was killed in a July 21, 2010 car accident on Highway 101 after another vehicle collided head-on with hers. According to a report in The Willits News, Evans was driving a 1995 Toyota 4Runner south on the highway when a 2001 Subaru driven by 37-year-old Saskia Martin swerved into the southbound lanes into the path of the 4Runner. California Highway Patrol officials said the head-on collision caused the Toyota SUV to roll over. Martin and Tonia Evans' husband, 52-year-old Allen Evans, sustained minor injuries. However, Tonia Evans died at the scene.

Martin told officials that she was in the slow lane of Highway 101 behind a big rig, when she attempted to pass it. Just as she did so, she spotted an abandoned bicycle in her lane and braked. Martin said it was then that she lost control of the Subaru and entered opposing lanes of traffic. CHP officers took the bicycle off freeway lanes. An investigation is ongoing.

The Result of Roadway Debris?

I offer my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Tonia Marie Evans for their tragic, heartbreaking and untimely loss. This grieving family will be in my thoughts and prayers.

Based on this news report, it appears that this tragic accident may have occurred as a result of someone dropping the bicycle in traffic lanes. The California State Department of Transportation estimates that 140,000 cubic yards of debris is dumped on California's roadways each year. In California, roadway debris has caused 155 traffic accident deaths and numerous catastrophic injuries between 2006 and 2008.

Laws and Liability Issues

California law prohibits anyone from throwing or dumping matter on the highway. California Vehicle Code section 23112 (a) states: "No person shall throw or deposit, nor shall the registered owner or the driver, if such owner is not then present in the vehicle, aid or abet in the throwing or depositing upon any highway any bottle, can, garbage, glass, nail, offal, paper, wire, any substance likely to injure or damage traffic using the highway, or any noisome, nauseous, or offensive matter of any kind."

In such cases where deadly crashes are caused by roadway debris, the person or entities that were responsible for dropping the debris on the roadway can be held liable for the accidents and resulting injuries or deaths. Individuals who are injured in such car accidents would be well-advised to consult with an experienced California personal injury lawyer who has successfully handled roadway debris cases. A skilled car accident lawyer should inform victims and their families how their car insurance policy will apply to such roadway accidents.

Have you ever had a close call on the roadway as a result of debris?

None of the parties mentioned in this article are represented by us at the time this article was posted. The source of our information is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call a reputable law firm for a consultation. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. The BISNAR | CHASE personal injury law firm will provide free, confidential consultation to "not at fault" persons and their family members if you mention your source was the “Personal Injury Law Journal." They can be reached at 866-456-5235 during California business hours.

George Batsakes, 73, was fatally injured in a car accident in Riverside after his vehicle was struck by another at a street intersection in Palm Springs. KPSP News reports that the deadly crash happened the morning of July 27, 2010 at the intersection of Crossley Road and Dinah Shore Drive when, police say, Batsakes ran a red light and hit a Verizon work truck. The driver of the truck was injured, but is expected to survive. Batsakes succumbed to his injuries. An investigation is ongoing. Read More

Two women identified as Beverly Jones and Nancy McBride, both 77, were killed in a car accident in San Francisco the evening of July 18, 2010. Bay City News reports that the fatal collision occurred in Sonoma County when 27-year-old Lyndsay Murray-Mazany drove straight through a 90-degree turn on Geyserville Avenue and crashed into a Subaru Forrester. The driver of that vehicle, 56-year-old Katherine Hinzman, and two other passengers suffered injuries. Jones and McBride, also passengers in the SUV, died on impact. Murray-Mazany, who told officials she was returning from a wine tasting event, was booked on suspicion of DUI and vehicular manslaughter. Read More

A hit-and-run collision in South Los Angeles resulted in the death of 11-year-old Natanael Garcia. CBS News reports that the fatal pedestrian collision occurred at the intersection of 76th and Hoover streets the afternoon of July 15, 2010. The suspect has been described as a Latino woman with a pony tail. Authorities also say they have a good description, surveillance tape and a partial license plate. If you witnessed this fatal collision, please contact 323-290-6063. Read More

A car accident in Los Angeles proved fatal for a woman on a Northridge street the morning of June 21, 2010. The Los Angeles Daily News reports that the fatal car crash occurred at the intersection of Reseda Boulevard and Devonshire Street where the victim was stopped to make a turn. At the time, police officials say, her Infiniti SUV was rear-ended by a speeding Mercedes that was eastbound on Devonshire. The impact of the crash caused the SUV to ignite. The driver, who was the only occupant of the SUV, died at the scene. The driver of the Mercedes was critically injured and taken to a local hospital for treatment. There were no other injuries. An investigation is ongoing. Read More