Haideh Khoshkhou Hoyt, 60, was killed and 69-year-old Dara Mohtadi was severely injured in a San Bernardino car accident after the vehicle in which they were traveling collided head-on with a milk truck. According to a news report in the Ventura County Star, the fatal crash occurred the night of September 19, 2010, when Hoyt's vehicle veered into oncoming traffic on Highway 18 near Victorville and hit the milk tanker. The impact of the collision caused Hoyt's car to strike another vehicle driven by 49-year-old Hector Molano Navarro. Mohtadi was transported to an area hospital with major injuries. Navarro and the truck driver, Fritz Gustav Lapenson, were uninjured.
My deepest condolences go out to the family and friends of Haideh Khoshkhou Hoyt. I also wish Mohtadi the very best for a speedy and complete recovery. It is indeed fortunate that Lapenson and Navarro were not injured in this crash.
Car Accidents
According to California Highway Patrol’s 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), 16 people were killed and 266 were injured in Victorville car accidents. In San Bernardino County as a whole, 263 fatalities and 8,504 injuries were reported as a result of car accidents during the same year.
California Law
It is unclear at this time what caused Hoyt to lose control of her car and turn into oncoming traffic. According to California Vehicle Code Section 21651 (a): "Whenever a highway has been divided into two or more roadways by means of intermittent barriers or by means of a dividing section of not less than two feet in width, either unpaved or delineated by curbs, double-parallel lines, or other markings on the roadway, it is unlawful…to drive any vehicle over, upon, or across the dividing section." In this particular case, I trust officials are looking into what caused Hoyt to veer into opposing lanes of traffic.
Fault and Liability
If this collision was the result of a vehicle defect, the auto maker could be held liable for the accident, Hoyt's wrongful death and the other injuries caused. If the accident was the result of driver negligence, then the injured victim could file a claim against the driver's estate and liability insurance. An experienced San Bernardino personal injury lawyer will be able to advise victims or their families in such cases about their legal rights and options.
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The BISNAR|CHASE personal injury law firm is not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call us or another reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free consultation. We provide a free, confidential consultation to not at fault persons named in this article. The free consultation offer extends to family members as well.
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Jeff said:
How sad. I hope everyone involved is ok. It pisses me off that I have to constantly hear about defective vehicles. When are auto makers going to protect us from their own crappy products?