One person was killed and five others were injured in a Riverside County car accident. According to a news report in The Desert Sun, the fatal rollover crash occurred on Interstate 10 near Date Palm Drive in Rancho Mirage. California Highway Patrol officials say the deceased man was a passenger in a 2002 Mitsubishi Montero. The vehicle rolled over after its left rear tire blew the morning of August 9, 2012. Rudolfo A. Flores, 23, was driving east when the tire blew.
Flores lost control of the vehicle and it rolled over. Three passengers, including the fatally injured victim, were ejected from the SUV. Flores and Daniel N. Hernandez suffered non-life-threatening injuries. Five others, identified as Julian I. Hernandez, 23, of Ontario; Jesse Galvan, 22, of La Puente; Jose J. Madera, 26, of Duarte; Oscar N. Peralta, 23, of Bell Gardens; Jacob Cruz, whose age and hometown are not known.
I offer my deepest condolences to the family members and friends of the deceased victim. My thoughts and prayers are also with the injured victims of this rollover crash.
Riverside County Crash Statistics
According to California Highway Patrol’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were three fatalities and 37 injuries involving car accidents in Rancho Mirage in 2009. During the same year, 203 people died and 7,974 were injured as a result of Riverside County car accidents.
Accident Causes
Based on this news report, it appears that the driver of the SUV lost control because of a blown tire. It is not clear if the blowout occurred as the result of a defective tire. It is also important to look into whether faulty design caused or contributed to the rollover crash. In cases where a defective tire or defective vehicle design caused the accident, the automaker can be held liable for the injuries, damages and losses.
Liability Issues
It would be in the best interests of victims and their families to preserve the vehicle in its current condition unaltered so that an expert can thoroughly examine it for defects, malfunctions and other evidence. Families of deceased victims, in cases where negligence is involved, can file a wrongful death claim seeking compensation for damages including medical expenses, funeral costs, lost future income and loss of love and companionship. An experienced Riverside County personal injury lawyer will be able to advise victims and their families in such cases about their legal rights and options.
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