Brain Injury

Brittany Gunnell, 20, was seriously injured in a Los Angeles car accident when a 2005 Mercury Mountaineer hit her bicycle. According to a news report in The Daily Breeze, the bicycle accident occurred at the intersection of 77th Street and Emerson Avenue in Westchester, the night of June 11, 2012. Officials say Gunnell wasn’t wearing a helmet when the 2005 Mercury Mountaineer struck her. She suffered severe head trauma and underwent surgery for a fractured skull and bleeding in the brain. Officials have not stated who was at fault for the crash or if they will issue any citations for driver negligence.

My heart goes out to Brittany Gunnell and her family following this terrible car accident. Her mother Denise O’Brien has posted messages on Facebook asking everyone to pray for her daughter. Many who know Gunnell, including former classmates, teachers, friends and community members held a prayer service for the aspiring actress and UC Berkeley student. The accident occurred as Gunnell was returning from a rehearsal for “Annie” at the Westchester Townhouse. Gunnell and her family will certainly be in my prayers. I wish her the very best for a complete recovery.

Read the rest »

Mauricio Valdez, 19, who was severely injured in an El Monte motorcycle accident has undergone surgery since and is now going through a tough recovery, according to our sources. The San Gabriel Valley Tribune reported earlier that the collision between Valdez’s motorcycle and another vehicle occurred the afternoon of December 20, 2011, near the intersection of Penn Mar Avenue and Ramona Boulevard.

Officials say Valdez was westbound on Ramona when the other vehicle exited a driveway and drove into his path. The victim was thrown off his motorcycle and sustained major injuries. He suffered a traumatic brain injury, as well as a broken hand, jaw, hip, and leg, our sources said. He underwent surgery on his arm, leg, and hip on December 29, 2011, and is in stable condition after the procedure.

Read the rest »

A husband and wife were injured in a Lancaster car accident after their bicycles was hit by a minivan. According to an Associated Press news report, the major injury collision occurred the evening of August 27, 2011 at a street intersection. Police say the couple was attempting to cross an intersection as was a minivan. At the time, the minivan was pushed into the cyclists’ path when it was hit by another vehicle. The man sustained severe head injuries and is said to be in critical condition. The wife is said to be in stable condition. Both were wearing helmets. The man and his wife were riding with a group of about 20 riders. No one else was injured. An investigation is ongoing.

My heart goes out to these injured victims. The male bicyclist here may have suffered severe head trauma or a brain injury. I wish both the very best for a speedy and full recovery. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

Read the rest »

A 2-year-old boy was hospitalized after he suffered serious injuries in a swimming pool accident. According to a report in the Los Angeles Daily News, the swimming pool accident occurred off North Cerrillos Drive in Woodland Hills the afternoon of May 31, 2011. The young victim was conscious when he was put aboard the helicopter that airlifted him to UCLA Medical Center. He is said to be in stable condition. It is unclear how the 2-year-old fell into the pool or how long he was in there.

My thoughts and prayers are with the young victim of this swimming pool accident. I wish him a complete and speedy recovery.

Swimming Pool Accidents

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), drowning is the second leading cause of all unintentional deaths for children aged 1 to14. Drowning is the leading cause of death for infants in 14 states, including California. Children under the age of 5 are 14 times more likely to be involved in a fatal swimming pool accident than a fatal car crash. Read the rest »

Kailyn Williams, 12, sustained critical injuries in a Los Angeles car accident after she was hit by a suspected drunk driver while riding her bicycle. According to a CBS News report, the major injury collision occurred on April 22, 2011. Police say the driver, Thomas Abraham Long, was driving a Chrysler Concorde westbound on West Arbutus Street in Compton, when he struck Kailyn who was riding her bike near her home. Long stopped at the scene and was arrested on suspicion of felony drunk driving.

My heart goes out to young Kailyn Williams who has apparently sustained a traumatic brain injury in this accident. Officials say she has undergone brain surgery and is in a medically induced coma. Her family is praying for a miracle. My thoughts and prayers are with this child. I sincerely hope she makes it through these critical injuries and goes on to make a complete recovery. Read the rest »

A 3-year-old boy suffered injuries in swimming pool accident the afternoon of March 23, 2011. According to a news report in The Press-Enterprise, the near-drowning incident occurred in a backyard pool in the 48800 block of Legacy Drive in La Quinta. The child was breathing and conscious when taken to the hospital. Officials are looking into what caused this near-drowning incident.

It is indeed fortunate that this did not turn into a fatal incident. My thoughts and prayers are with this little boy. I sincerely hope he makes a quick and complete recovery.

Swimming Pool Accident Statistics

According to a 2007 report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there were 3,443 fatal unintentional drowning incidents in the United States. The report also states that fatal drowning is the “second-leading cause of unintentional injury-related death for children ages 1 to 14 years.” Nonfatal drowning incidents or near-drowning can cause brain injuries and brain damage that may result in long-term disabilities including memory problems, learning disabilities, and permanent loss of basic functioning. Read the rest »