February 14 wrongful death accident in Ceres

In the early morning hours of February 14 Johnny Lopez and Jose Beltran, both students at Johansen High School in Modesto, were killed in a wrongful death accident in Ceres involving a stolen vehicle. According to reports the two boys along with two others were riding in a car that had been stolen from Ceres then took it on a joy ride. The 16-year-old, unidentified driver lost control of the vehicle on River Road, hit a curb, left the road, hit a fire hydrant, turned on its side and hit a tree, roof first. Lopez and Beltran were passengers in the car. The driver and the 15-year-old, unidentified  passenger are being charged with possession of a stolen car. The driver is also facing charges of vehicular manslaughter.

February 11 fatal pistachio plant accident in Terra Bella

On February 11 Fernando Santiesteban died in an accident at a pistachio plant in Terra Bella.
According to reports Santiesteban was performing maintenance on a machine that separates the nuts from the hulls when someone turned the machine on. Cal-OSHA reported that the machine was not “locked out,” a safety mechanism that prevents it from being turned on. Santiesteban's legs were severed in the accident and he later died from his injuries. The tragic accident happened at Setton Pistachio plant in Terra Bella.

Crash with orange truck in Lindsay kills one

February 11, 2011--Yesterday's motor vehicle accident in Lindsay occurred at about 1pm.  A big rig carrying 80,000 lbs. of oranges collided with a VW Passat whose driver died in the crash.  The car is alleged to have pulled out in front of the rig.  Two passengers were seriously injured with one of them being airlifted to Regional Medical Center in Fresno.

The oranges were being hauled by Protacio, 39, of Porterville.  The accident was at Road 196 and Avenue 224 in Lindsay in Tulare County.

This accident raises a multitude of questions.  The speed of the orange truck is the first consideration, visibility of oncoming traffic is another.  The truck should have an air bag event data recorder or black box which will allow a download of computer data as to pre-impact speed, etc.  This information must be retrieved before repair are made or vehices are destroyed. 

Accident data for other crashes at this same location can be retrieved to look for dangerous patterns.

Our offices in Visalia are currently litigating an action against Juarez Brothers Trucking in Bakersfield where the truck turned across a highway in thick fog.  We have also successfully sued over blocked stop signs near Woodlake with another action pending over an orchard which blocked the view of an oncoming car near Sanger.  Please give us a call if you would like an engineer to take a look.  Attorney John Rozier  559-713-0159.

February 5 wrongful death motorcycle accident in Manteca

On February 5 Hans Bannemer died in a motorcycle accident on Highway 99 in Manteca. According to reports Bannemer was riding south on Highway 99 near East Yosemite Avenue in Manteca at a high rate of speed when he drifted into the median. Then he lost control of his bike and hit the guardrail. He was declared dead at the scene of the accident.

February 6 pedestrian accident in Visalia kills 3-year-old

On February 6 three-year-old Amber Nelson died after being run over by a pickup truck while riding her bike on her cul-de-sac in Visalia. According to reports the girl was riding her bike on the sidewalk of her cul-de-sac on West Country Court in Visalia while her dad and brother shot hoops on the driveway. Meanwhile a pickup truck backed up and hit her. It seemed that the driver of the pickup truck, Robert Juskalian, never saw her. Amber was taken to Kaweah Delta Medical Center where she was pronounced dead.

February 5 Highway 99 wrongful death accident near Earlimart

On February 5 a man was killed in a wrongful death accident on Highway 99 in Tulare County near Earlimart. According to reports the victim was southbound on Highway 99 near Avenue 76 when he steered his vehicle into the center median of the highway.  He then veered back into the southbound lanes and subsequently lost control of his vehicle. The vehicle then spun clockwise, left the road, hit a tree, and finally rolled into a dirt field. The victim was thrown from the vehicle and was later found lying near a fence with fatal injuries. The identity of the victim has not been released at this time.

Demaree and Tulare accident in Visalia

February 4, 2011--This morning on the way to work I passed the scene of an accident at the intersection of Tulare and Demaree in Visalia.  An ambulance responded.  No further details are yet available.

February 2 Four-wheeler accident in Porterville

On February 2 Johnny Arias and his 11-year-old grandson Edward Hunt were injured when the four-wheeler they were on crashed near Porterville. Reportedly Arias was driving west on South Reservation Road at a high rate of speed with his grandson seated behind him when they began to pass a slower moving vehicle. The other vehicle then began to turn left. Arias swerved to the left to avoid an accident. The four-wheeler then left the roadway. The quad then hit a traffic sign and a barbed wire fence. Both Arias and Hunt were thrown from the quad. Neither person was wearing a helmet. They were both taken to Sierra View District Hospital to be treated for major injuries. Hunt was later taken via air to Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno.

Our office currently has a $3 million claim demand pending on a quad case involving a claimant who lost his leg.  Issues in that case involve whether speed was excessive, whether the size of the ATV was appropriate, and issues of negligent supervision.  Please call us if you would like me to take a look at your case.  Attorney John Rozier in Visalia on Caldwell.  559-713-0159.  http://www.nelsonrozier.com/

February 1 Tulare accident

On February 1 Alonso Jimenez was critically injured in a two-vehicle accident in Tulare. Reportedly Jimenez was was eastbound on Avenue 208 when he ran a stop sign at the intersection with Enterprise Street. Jimenez's vehicle then crashed with a Ford F 250 that was southbound on Enterprise and was driven by Dale Conelly. Jimenez's vehicle then hit a power pole. Jimenez was extricated from the vehicle and taken via air to Community Regional Medical Center. Conelly was treated for minor injuries at the scene of the accident.

Issues in this case include the speed of each vehicle which can probably be determined by the event data recorders in the air bag modules.  This data must be recovered before the cars are repaired.  Also, skid marks and other evidence at the scene may yield clues.  We can send an engineer to investigate if you are considering a claim.  559-713-0159.

February 1 wrongful death accident on Highway 99 in Modesto

On February 1 Max Cabrera was killed in a single-vehicle, wrongful death accident on Highway 99 in Modesto. Reportedly Cabrera was driving south on Highway 99 south of Kansas Avenue when he went across the southbound lanes and off the road. His vehicle then hit a concrete wall, continued south, and then hit a road sign and a tree. Cabrera was declared dead at the scene of the accident.

February 1 fatal pedestrian accident in Waterford, Stanislaus County

On February 1 Alicia Ortiz was killed when she was hit by a car while crossing Oakdale Waterford Highway near Bonnie Brae Avenue. Reportedly Ortiz was crossing the highway when she was hit by a northbound Ford pickup truck and horse trailer. Ortiz suffered major injuries and was taken to a local hospital where she later died from the injuries sustained in the accident.