Accident on I-5 Kills Young Woman and Two Teens
A multiple fatality accident was reported in Cottonwood on March 20. The accident happened along Interstate 5 southbound near Bowman Road around 1:45 a.m. The report issued by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) said a young woman and two teenagers died and another female suffered major injuries when the 2018 Kia they were riding in crashed into a commercial truck parked on the freeway’s shoulder.
Surviving Passenger Hospitalized in Redding
Those who died in the collision were the male driver, a Red Bluff teen, age 16, a female, age 15 and also from Red Bluff, who was a front-seat passenger, and a Cottonwood woman, age 20. A GoFundMe page has been established on behalf of the families of the three parties who passed away in this tragic accident.
A 21-year-old Red Bluff woman riding in the back seat survived the crash but was seriously injured and transported to Mercy Medical Center at Redding. No additional information has been offered about the young woman’s condition.
CHP Investigating Multiple Fatality Accident
The two people riding in the front seat of the Kia were using seat restraints at the time of the crash; however, the two riding in the back were not belted in. The CHP is carrying out an investigation into how the accident happened, and it is unknown yet whether alcohol or drugs factored into the cause. Names of the deceased and injured have not yet been released.
Truck Driver Unharmed in Fatal Crash
The commercial truck driver, an Elk Grove resident, age 47, was uninjured in the collision. The driver said he didn’t see the collision but felt the impact when the Kia struck his truck in the back.
Minors Driving in California
According to the California DMV, minors with a provisional drivers license may not operate a vehicle between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. Neither can they transport anyone under the age of 20 unless accompanied by another driver, age 25 or more, a guardian or parent or a driving instructor who is either certified or licensed. The reason for these strict regulations is because teens get into twice the number of collisions as adults when driving only half as much.
Causes of a Collision With a Big Truck
Truck drivers do sometimes park on the side of the road. However, without operational running lights, it may be difficult for other motorists to spot them until it’s too late and causes a fatality accident. Another contributing problem can be poor lighting in the area. In those cases, the government entity in charge may be held liable for a fatality accident. The statute of limitations for filing against a government entity is shorter. The claim must be filed within six months, and the entity has 45 days to respond. If they reject the claim, the injured party/parties have up to six months to sue. If no response is received, they have up to two years to file a lawsuit.
Traffic Collisions Can Be Complex
As you can see, there are multiple reasons a fatality accident can occur. By engaging the help of an injury lawyer, an investigation can be conducted into the cause and all responsible parties can be held accountable. Although filing a wrongful death claim cannot bring back their loved ones or ease their grief, it can help the family avoid the financial distress of the loss and bring them justice and help give them a sense of closure.
Red Bluff Wrongful Death Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Red Bluff wrongful death lawyer. Fatal accidents that involve young people are always a tragic loss. If your loved one died due to a negligent driver or others, your family may want to find out if they can file a wrongful death claim. Call us at (530) 392-9400 or (800) 404-5400 for our free and friendly advice. We can arrange a consultation, either in person or virtually, to discuss your case, answer your questions and tell you about options to recover compensation. We can also be reached online.
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Photo attribution: Image by Myriams-Fotos from Pixabay
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