Los Angeles Injury Attorney Blog

Two people were tragically killed and five others were injured in a violent head-on collision Friday afternoon near the Barstow outlet malls, the Desert Dispatch reported. The fatal San Bernardino County accident occurred at about 1:30 p.m. on Friday, November 26, 2010. The victims - identified by the San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner as Agustin Enriquez, 77, of Hesperia, and Marlene Chito, 4, of Hesperia - were passengers in a 2003 Nissan Murano travelling southbound on Outlet Center Drive in Barstow. For unknown reasons, a 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe was travelling northbound in the southbound lane and struck the Nissan Murano head-on.

According to the San Bernardino County Sheriff Coroner, Enriquez died at the scene of the crash at 2:12 p.m. and Chito died at Barstow Community Hospital at 2:31 p.m. The Desert Dispatch reported there were five people in the Nissan, and two people in the Kia, which had a Colorado license plate. In addition to the two fatalities, four people were critically injured in the accident, and were taken to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton and Loma Linda University Medical Center.

Cause of the Crash

Based on the limited information provided in news accounts, the cause of the accident is unclear. The Barstow Police Department is the agency investigating the cause of the head-on collision. Authorities will likely look at speed, possible driver impairment or distraction, road condition, or possible vehicle defect or malfunction in determining exactly what happened and why, and who was ultimately responsible.

Wrongful Death and Personal Injury Liability

In multiple fatality, major injury collisions such as this one, the family members of the victims of this crash would be well-advised to consult with an experienced and knowledgeable California personal injury lawyer as soon as possible, about the victims' rights in a personal injury or wrongful death claim. While the accident remains under investigation, an attorney can help the family understand and protect their legal rights, and begin gathering evidence to build a potential case. If negligence was a factor in the crash, the family may be entitled to compensation for their injuries and losses as a result of this crash. A skilled lawyer can help the victims and their families recover the maximum compensation they may be entitled to for medical care costs and expenses, funeral and burial expenses, lost earnings and other related damages.

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An 11-year-old Downey girl was tragically killed Friday, April 9, 2010 in a solo-vehicle rollover accident on Interstate 40, east of Barstow, authorities reported. The Barstow City Fire Department and the California Highway Patrol responded to reports of the crash, which occurred just before 8 p.m. on westbound I-40 near Fort Cady Road in Newberry Springs. The San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner identified the victim as Caitlyn Montero, 11, of Downey. According to the CHP, Caitlyn's mother, Lori Montero, was driving the family's 2004 Chevrolet when she allowed the vehicle to drift into the center median. She then overcorrected, causing the vehicle to overturn multiple times. Caitlyn was ejected and died at the scene of the crash.

According to reports in the Desert Dispatch, Lori Montero was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident. She is facing charges for her daughter's death. Caitlyn's 10-year-old brother and a 43-year-old man in the car were also injured in the crash.

This horrific accident is absolutely heartbreaking, and we are deeply saddened for the death of young Caitlyn. Sadly, her death is only one of several hundred child fatalities every year that result from alcohol intoxication of an adult. An estimated 25% of child fatalities from motor vehicle accidents are alcohol related. Shockingly, 68% of children involved in alcohol-related crashes are in the vehicle with the intoxicated driver.

Child Endangerment Laws

California is one of many states that has a child endangerment statute to punish drunk drivers who transport minors. In non-injury offenses, if a minor passenger is under 14 years old, the state enhances existing DUI penalties by 48 hours in jail for a first offense up to 90 days in jail for multiple offenses. Furthermore, a DUI offender with a passenger who is a minor may also be convicted of child endangerment, which is a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in the county jail for up to one year, or in state prison for up to six years.

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The San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner's Office has reported a 24-year-old man was killed Thursday in a rollover crash on I-15 in Barstow. The crash occurred at about 1:15 p.m. on northbound I-15 at Cady Wash. The driver, Edward Tutundjian, reportedly veered into the dirt median for unknown reasons and overcorrected across traffic lanes. His 2008 BMW rolled several times and Tutundjian was ejected from his vehicle. He died at the scene of the crash.

Please keep Edward's family in your thoughts and prayers as they cope with the loss of this young man. Based on the news reports in the San Bernardino Sun, it is not clear what caused this crash. Was there a mechanical failure of the vehicle, or did something in the roadway cause Tutundjian to lose control of his vehicle? The facts of this accident leave more questions than answers. Tutundjian's family would be wise to consult with a Barstow accident attorney who will perform and independent investigation into the cause of this fatal rollover crash.

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