Friday, May 15, 2009

Three undocumented immigrants injured in car crash

Roughly, about 2.8 millions of illegal immigrants reside in California.

Most of them choose to work in California as it tends to favor some form of legalization. Hence, illegal immigrants evade being caught while working and applying for a legal status.

Evading patrol agents made three undocumented immigrants sped off and crashed their car against a tree.

When two patrol agents became suspicious of a silver 2005 Ford Taurus at northbound on Sunrise Highway, a brief pursuit ensued when the car refused to stop. Migrant smugglers often used such route to avoid border patrol checkpoint.

The agents ended the chase as the road conditions prevent them from running their patrol car fast. They were informed later that the car struck a tree.

California Highway Patrol Officer Brian Pennings reported that the driver failed to negotiate a curve, struck a tree and a dirt embankment. The driver and two passengers were all taken to the hospitals.

Aside form immigration issues, the driver would be facing other charges for his negligent driving. The victims may consult a personal injury lawyer to help them navigate the intricacies of California personal injury laws should they wish to file a case.

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Two Teens Killed in an Alcohol related Crash

Teen drivers are aggressive, adventurous and carefree. Predictably, reckless driving is one of the causes of death among them.

In a fatal alcohol related crash, two teenagers died and one in critical condition after their pickup truck lost control, skidded, went off the road and struck a tree.

Jacquelyn A. Ardalan and Miles A. Christensen who were ejected from their seats died at the scene. Jared Berggren, the pickup driver, was rushed at UCI Medical Center in Orange for immediate medical attention.

The accident occurred at the eastbound on Coyote Hills Drive, west of Gilbert Street. The Fullerton authorities revealed that the three teenagers were on a drinking spree in a cul-de-sac where remains of alcohol were found.

An alarming statistics revealed that 60% of all teen car accident deaths are due to alcohol.

Authorities have long addressed the problem on drunk driving. Measure’s such as increasing the drinking age to 21 has been adopted by some states. Consequently, teen fatal driving accidents dramatically decrease. Some states even reduced the legally drunk blood alcohol limit from .10 to .08.

Moreover, a program had been implemented on more than 20 states where first-time drunk driving offenders come face to face with a panel of drunken driving victim’s families.

Despite programs addressed to prevent drunk driving, teen drunk driving still exists. It only shows that the responsibility of ensuring our children’s safety not only lies in the hands of the authorities but also from the active involvement of the parents, schools and the teens themselves.

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Bicyclist seriously injured on Highway 9

Highway 9 in Saratoga has been a common site for road accidents. Several fatal incidents had transpired in this major thoroughfare involving motorists, pedestrians, bicyclists and joggers.

Ashleigh Jackson, a recent victim of a hit and run on Highway 9, was on her regular riding routine when she was struck and left motionless by a BMV driver.

Jackson and her boyfriend Nelson entered Highway 9 off Bohlman Road and were headed home when the incident happened. The driver momentarily stopped then sped off.

Nelson was unharmed while Jackson was brought to Valley Medical Center for brain trauma treatment. Jackson’s family offered an $11,000 reward for any information on the driver’s identity.

The authorities call on every one to be extra cautious and vigilant when using Highway 9. Despite efforts by local cities and state and county agencies to improve its safety conditions, this major thoroughfare remained an accident prone area. In fact, bicycle lanes from Big Basin Way to Los Gatos Boulevard had been installed in this 4.4-mile stretch highway.

Hit and run victims and their loved ones are powerless to prosecute offenders without any information on their identity. The public’s participation is vital in every hit and run cases. No matter how good the bicycle accident attorney engaged by the victim, the case would still crumble if the assailant’s whereabouts are unknown.