A Bloomington woman died Monday morning in a solo vehicle rollover accident on Interstate 15 in Victorville, the San Bernardino Press Enterprise reported. The July 5th accident was reported at 7:51 a.m. on northbound I-15, north of Bear Valley Road in Victorville. The San Bernardino County Coroner identified the victim as Gloria Lynn Hooker, 57, of Bloomington.
According to the Victorville Daily Press, Hooker was a passenger in a 1999 Ford F250 Superduty pickup truck driven by Jerry Wayne Hooker, 55. The vehicle was in the fast lane when one of the tires rapidly lost pressure. As the driver attempted to pull over in the center divider, the tire shredded, causing the pickup truck to overturn multiple times. Both the driver and the passenger remained in the vehicle and had to be extricated by emergency personnel. Jerry Wayne Hooker was flown to Antelope Valley Hospital with moderate injuries. Gloria Lynn Hooker died at the scene.
Tire Blowouts and Rollover Accidents
The California Highway Patrol is still investigating the cause of the accident. If news reports are accurate, the rapid deflation and blowout of the tire caused the driver of the vehicle to lose control, and the vehicle to overturn. This was not the first I-15 rollover fatality attributed to a tire blowout this year. A 46-year-old San Bernardino woman died in March in a Jeep rollover accident on I-15 attributed to a tire blowout.
At freeway speeds, it can be very difficult to regain control of a vehicle in a rollover situation. Tires are a critical element of vehicle safety. When tires blow out, or rapidly deflate, the consequences are often deadly. Tire blowouts can be caused by aged tires, excessively worn tires, road hazards, underinflation, overinflation, overloading, and defects in design and manufacturing. Every year, dozens of tire manufacturers recall tires for defects that put motorists at risks. Tire blowouts can also result when tires are not installed properly.
Wrongful Death Liability and Compensation
If the tire blowout resulted from a tire manufacturing defect or negligence in installation, the family members of the victim of this accident may be entitled to compensation for their loss in a wrongful death claim. While this crash is under investigation, the family members of the victims of this crash may benefit from speaking to an attorney about the cause of this crash and potential liability issues. An experienced lawyer who has handled many tire blowout accident cases can arrange to have the tire and vehicle inspected, and advise the victims of their potential legal rights, options, and responsibilities following this accident.
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