Nicholas Drew Royals, 22, was killed in a car crash in San Bernardino after a car struck him. According to a news report in The San Bernardino County Sun, the fatal pedestrian accident occurred early morning on September 10, 2012 on Benson Avenue near Moreno Street in Montclair. Police say Royals was heading south on Benson when a 1995 Nissan Sentra driven by a man struck him from behind. The driver stopped at the scene and called 911. Royals was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver apparently told officials that he could not see Royals on the roadway. The investigation is ongoing.
I offer my deepest condolences to the family members and friends of Nicholas Drew Royals for their tragic and heartbreaking loss. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
Pedestrian Accident Statistics
According to California Highway Patrol’s 2010 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were no fatalities, but eight injuries reported as a result of pedestrian accidents in Montclair. In San Bernardino County as a whole, pedestrian collisions claimed 33 lives and injured 392 people, during the same year.
What Caused This Fatal Incident?
Based on this news article, Royals was skateboarding on the roadway when he was hit from behind by the Nissan. There are several unanswered questions here. How fast was the driver going at the time of the collision? Where on the roadway was Royals skateboarding at the time? Was the driver of the Nissan impaired, distracted, inattentive or fatigued at the time? I trust officials are looking into thee and other factors in order to determine precisely what occurred here and why.
Fault and Liability
If the driver in this case is determined to have been at fault, he could be held liable for Royals’ wrongful death. In cases where negligence or wrongdoing is involved, families of deceased victims can file wrongful death claim seeking compensation for damages including medical expenses, funeral costs, lost future income, and loss of love and companionship. The family would be well advised to contact an experienced San Bernardino personal injury lawyer, who can determine whether a dangerous roadway condition caused or contributed to the incident. If that was the case, the city or governmental agency responsible for maintaining the roadway can also be held liable. Under California Government Code Section 911.2, any personal injury or wrongful death claim must be filed within 180 days of the incident.
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Mom said:
If anyone has any information regarding this story, please contact me immediately. I am his mother and his wife denied his entire family of any and all notification of this tragedy. We had to find out on the internet and therefore, were excluded from any type of service, including his 2 yr old son