Two young men died in a horrific solo-vehicle SUV rollover crash Tuesday night in Santa Fe Springs, the California Highway Patrol reported. The accident occurred in the northbound lanes of Interstate 5, south of the 605 Freeway, at about 11:25 p.m. According to reports in the Whittier Daily News, the driver of the 2003 Nissan Xterra, Ryan Tiederman, 18, of Cerritos, lost control of the SUV for unknown reasons and veered off the freeway. The vehicle then struck a raised embankment and rolled several times, coming to a rest on its roof near the bottom of the on-ramp at Florence Avenue. The passenger, Jacob Aragon, 19, of Lakewood, was partially ejected from the vehicle. Both men died at the scene of the crash.
Our sympathy goes out to the families of Ryan Tiederman and Jacob Aragon, and everyone who knew and loved them. Please keep their families in your prayers as they are grieving the sudden and unexpected loss of these two young men.
CHP Investigation
Any witnesses to the accident or anyone else with information about the accident is asked to contact the CHP's Santa Fe Springs office at (562)868-0503. CHP officers are investigating the cause of the crash, and working to determine the speed of the SUV at the time of the crash, whether the two men were wearing seat belts, and whether alcohol or drugs were involved. A CHP officer said investigators at the scene did not find any initial evidence that alcohol was a factor in the crash.
Who Was At Fault?
Based on the news reports of this accident, it is impossible to tell what caused this rollover accident or who was at fault. The family of both of the men killed in this accident would be well advised to consult with a Los Angeles SUV rollover accident lawyer who can help them determine the cause of the accident, and whether deficient roof-strength in the Nissan XTerra contributed to the two men's deaths. Some SUVs also have defective door latches that are too weak to keep the doors closed in the event of a rollover, which may cause passengers to be ejected. If a defect in the SUV caused the two young men to die in this accident, the families may consider filing a wrongful death claim against the vehicle's manufacturer. An experienced Los Angeles wrongful death lawyer can help the family understand their legal rights, options and obligations following a devastating accident such as this one.
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