El Monte Car Accidents Impacted by Illegal Street Racers

An older city in Los Angeles County, El Monte, California, has grown to a population of over 120,000. With that growth has come an increase in the number of El Monte car accidents. One particularly dangerous type of activity that has plagued El Monte is illegal street racing.

Illegal Street Racers Cause Fatal Car Accident

Two years ago, tragedy struck when a woman and her two children were killed in a fiery collision as their car was T-boned at Elliott and Parkway Drive by illegal racers. The woman's car was shoved 50 feet before the car crashed into a pickup truck and burst into flames trapping its three victims.

"Illegal street racing, made popular by films that seem to glorify both participants and bystanders, is partially to blame," said El Monte car accident lawyer John Bisnar. "Education on the dangers of this activity along with stepped up enforcement efforts should be implemented to curtail such speed contests on city streets."

Residents along Parkway Drive have had to contend with illegal street racers for some time. Five major car accidents along the street have already caused a number of injuries. Fortunately, El Monte recently installed 35 speed bumps along Parkway Drive near Mountain View High School in an attempt to discourage illegal speed racers. Driving over these speed bumps at speeds faster than 25 mph will damage a car--something that racers will avoid, since many take pride their cars.

Car Accidents Often Involve Red-Light Runners

As if illegal street racing wasn't enough of a problem, El Monte, like most cities, has also had to deal with red-light runners. Yet while some cities have addressed this problem with red-light camera technology, El Monte recently chose to abandon its five-year old photo-ticketing program. The red-light cameras at East Garvey and Lee St., Peck Rd and Ramona St. and Santa Anita Ave. and Lower Azusa Rd. have been deactivated because they didn't reduce the number of intersection accidents, according to El Monte's City Manager.

Traffic tragedies in El Monte have been documented by a number of statistics covering a wide range of mishaps. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, El Monte suffered 13 car accident fatalities between 2001 and 2003. In 2006, the California Highway Patrol's Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS) reported nine car accident deaths in the city and 527 car accident-related injuries. DUI car collisions were responsible for five deaths and 46 injuries. Motorcycle accidents killed two and injured 21. One pedestrian was killed and 44 were injured in El Monte car collisions.

To combat these grim statistics, El Monte has stepped up its traffic enforcement efforts. El Monte's Traffic Safety Bureau has zeroed in on unlicensed drivers and has focused on reducing the number of hit-and-run car accidents. To remove dangerous drivers from El Monte streets, the Bureau often conducts DUI safety checkpoints that have convinced many drivers to stay home if they choose to drink alcohol.

Be on the Hit-and-Run Lookout

BISNAR | CHASE, in conjunction with WeTip, a leading anonymous crime reporting service and law enforcement advocacy non-profit organization, is launching a program intended to wipe out hit-and-runs in the state of California by offering rewards for tips leading to the arrest and felony conviction of hit-and-run drivers. See Hit-and-Run Reward for more details.

BISNAR | CHASE 2006-2010 Super Lawyers names outstanding lawyers from more than 60 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. BISNAR | CHASE has received this award for five consecutive years. Brian Chase was named one of the 2010 Top 50 Orange County Lawyers.