Los Angeles Injury Attorney Blog

ORANGE COUNTY - The OC Register reported an 18-year-old Ladera Ranch man tragically died early Sunday morning, about five hours following a collision on the 57 Freeway. Cameron Cook, the victim, was a passenger in a 2001 Chevrolet Camaro travelling northbound on the 57 Freeway, south of Katella Avenue. For reasons still unknown, the Camaro was involved in a solo traffic collision. According to the CHP, the vehicle came to rest facing north on the right shoulder, partly blocking the No. 5 lane. The driver, an 18-year-old San Juan Capistrano man, and Cook exited the vehicle.

Cook was standing on the right shoulder near the rear of the Camaro. A few minutes after the initial collision, a 1993 Honda Civic driven by a 24-year-old Highland woman struck the front left side of the Camaro. The impact of the collision caused the Camaro to be pushed onto the right shoulder, striking Cook, and pushing him over the overpass railing. He fell about 50 to 60 feet down a cement embankment. He was rushed to UCI Medical Center in Orange, where he died just after 5 a.m. The CHP is investigating the cause of this crash, and will surely look at factors such as the speed of the Honda, possible driver impairment, and the location of Cook in the roadway when he was struck.

Freeway Bystander Accidents

Disabled vehicle and freeway bystander deaths are surprisingly common occurrences, and this accident is a painful reminder of the dangers of exiting a vehicle on a freeway. If you find yourself involved in a disabled vehicle on a freeway, remain in the car with your seat belt on and caution lights activated until help arrives. There have been a number of similar incidents recently, including:

• In December 2010, a Mission Viejo man was killed while trying to retrieve a small boat that had come off a trailer on Interstate 5 in San Juan Capistrano.

• In October of 2010, an 18-year-old Vista woman was standing outside her disabled Nissan Sentra on Interstate 10 near Cabazon when she was struck and killed by a BMW.

• In August 2010, three people were killed when a drunk driver struck their vehicle on the shoulder of Highway 78 in Vista. The group had stopped because one of the passengers was feeling ill.

• In July 2010, two men who were working under the hood of a disabled vehicle on Interstate 5 in San Diego, where critically injured when the car was struck from behind.

Freeway Accident Wrongful Death Liability

While this April 2nd incident remains under investigation by the California Highway Patrol, the family members of the young man who lost his life would be well-advised to speak with an experienced and knowledgeable California wrongful death attorney. A lawyer who has successfully represented numerous victims of fatal accidents on freeways can advise the victim's family of their legal rights and options following this crash. The victim's family may choose to pursue a wrongful death claim against the driver of the Camaro or the driver of the Honda, or both, if their negligent actions was a cause of death of their loved one.