A 15-year-old Rialto teenager was tragically killed Wednesday afternoon after he was hit by a pickup truck on Grove Avenue in Ontario, authorities reported. The April 21st accident occurred at 2:16 p.m., north of 5th Street. The San Bernardino County Coroner identified the victim as Jesus Valencia of Rialto. According to reports in the San Bernardino Sun, the teenager was attempting to cross the street from the west side to the east side. He made it across southbound lanes, and the car in the fast lane saw him and stopped. The 21-year-old driver in the second northbound lane did not see the boy and struck him.
Valencia was taken to San Antonio Community Hospital in Upland, where he died. The driver was not arrested and the cause of the San Bernardino County pedestrian accident is under investigation. Anyone with information about the accident may contact traffic investigators at (909)395-2800.
A Dangerous Intersection?
The San Bernardino Sun reported that between 2006 and 2008, the intersection of Grove Avenue and Fifth Street has been the location of three separate traffic accidents involving fatalities. It is not clear if there were any accidents in 2009. In response to the prior accidents, "medians" consisting of several orange reflective sticks were installed to separate northbound lanes and southbound lanes.
Pedestrian Accident and Wrongful Death Liability
Based on the news reports of this crash, it is not clear who was at fault. Even though the teen was not in a crosswalk, if the driver of the pickup truck was speeding or otherwise should have seen the boy, he may be held liable for this accident. The family of Jesus Valencia would be well-advised to speak to a San Bernardino wrongful death attorney about this pedestrian accident as soon as possible.
An attorney can also look at the reports of the other fatal traffic accidents at this same location and determine if this accident could have been prevented, based on information learned or safety improvement recommendations made after the prior accidents at this same location. Depending on the circumstances, the family may be entitled to monetary compensation for the loss of their loved one in a wrongful death claim.
Leave a comment