Los Angeles Injury Attorney Blog

SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY - A 50-year-old woman and an 11-year-old girl were both tragically killed Sunday night in an SUV rollover crash in Mountain Pass on Interstate 15, the San Bernardino Sun reported. The July 17th accident was reported at 10:18 p.m. on northbound I-15, north of Yates Well Road, west of Nipton, CA and south of Primm, NV. Paramedics found a silver 1999 Isuzu Rodeo had overturned into a ditch. The Sun reported two people died at the scene and the driver and two other passengers were taken to University Hospital in Las Vegas. The fast lane of I-15 was closed for five hours while CHP officers conducted an investigation.

The San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner identified the victims as Patricia Vargas, 50, of Las Vegas, and Maria Lopez, 11, of Mexico. According to the press release, both victims were not wearing seat belts and were ejected from the vehicle when it overturned after the tread on one of the vehicle's tires separated, causing the driver to lose control.

Interstate 15 Rollover Accidents

Interstate 15 in San Bernardino County has been the location of dozens of serious injury or fatal vehicle rollover accidents over the years. Just last month, two Nevada woman were killed in an Interstate 15 rollover accident near Baker. In May, a 37-year-old Los Angeles man died in a SUV rollover crash in the Cajon Pass. In November 2010, a 61-year-old Las Vegas woman died in a vehicle rollover on I-15 near Zzyzx Road. In July 2010, an Oro Grande man died in a Ford Explorer rollover crash on northbound I-15 in the Cajon pass. And in March 2010, a Rancho Cucamonga couple was killed in a Ford Explorer rollover on southbound I-15. These accidents are just a few of the accidents that happen on a weekly basis on I-15 throughout the county of San Bernardino.

Vehicle Accident Wrongful Death Liability

Every car accident has unique causes and resulting liability issues. Depending on the exact circumstances of how an accident occurs, if negligence was a cause or factor, victims and their families may be entitled to compensation in a personal injury or wrongful death claim. Following a fatal rollover accident where the cause is unclear, victims' families would be well-advised to speak with an experienced and knowledgeable California SUV rollover accident attorney. A skilled lawyer can review the accident report, and if appropriate, arrange to have the vehicle and/or accident location inspected for dangerous conditions, flaws or defects. Many SUV rollover accidents are the result of manufacturing or design defects in the vehicles themselves, in which case the manufacturer of the vehicle may be liable victims' deaths resulting from a fatal accident.