A 57-year-old woman died in a rollover car accident on the 15 Freeway in Barstow the afternoon of July 1 after she had over corrected her Toyota Solara, the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin reports. The fatal car crash occurred on the northbound lanes of the 15 Freeway when she and another driver tried to merge into the same lane. After noticing each other, both drivers attempted to swerve and over corrected. The Toyota's driver died at the scene and her passenger was airlifted to the hospital with major injuries. There is no information about the driver of the other vehicle.
My heart goes out to the family and friends of the deceased woman. I offer my deepest sympathies to everyone who knew and loved her. I also wish the injured victim the very best for a quick and complete recovery. Please keep this seriously injured victim in your prayers.
According to California Highway Patrol's Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were six fatalities and 108 injuries involving car accidents in Barstow in 2007. During the same year, 308 deaths and 9,920 personal injuries were reported in San Bernardino County as a result of car accidents.
Based on this news report, it appears that someone was trying to make an unsafe lane change on the freeway causing this fatal rollover car crash. California Vehicle Code section 21658 states: "Whenever any roadway has been divided into two or more clearly marked lanes for traffic in one direction the following rules apply: (a) A vehicle shall be driven as nearly as practical entirely within a single lane and shall not be moved from the lane until such movement can be made with reasonable safety."
If I were representing the family of the victims in this rollover accident case, I would look into whether an inherent auto product defect or design defect contributed to the instability of the Toyota causing it to tip over, as the driver attempted to overcorrect. If that was the case then the auto maker could be held liable for the accident and injuries. An experienced auto products liability attorney will be able to determine what exactly caused this car crash and the injuries. The best personal injury lawyers will always offer a free and comprehensive initial consultation to injured victims and their families.
SLS Consulting