Body of Tow Truck Driver Found in River
The body of tow truck driver, Shalvinesh Sharma, was found in the Sacramento River on April 11 shortly after 9:00 a.m. It was more than two weeks after an accident that claimed his life. The 40-year-old tow truck driver’s body was seen floating in the Garcia Bend area of the river on Thursday morning. Sharma’s body was identified by the sheriff’s office in Yolo County, and a full autopsy is pending. The body of his wife, Roselyn Sharma, who was a passenger in the tow truck, was found in the cab on Sunday. The discoveries bring some closure to the family and friends of the Fijian-Indian couple, who were inseparable in life.
Retrieving the Tow Truck Driver’s Body
From the start of the search, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) said that the Sacramento River’s current was moving too fast for search efforts. The depth of the water and its cold temperature were other factors. This impeded recovery efforts by the Drowning Rescue Team in Sacramento to find the tow truck driver and his wife in the icy waters early on. In order to move the search along, the Office of Emergency Service Dive Team from Solano County was brought in to help. Efforts have continued sporadically due to the water’s current since recovery would require divers.
Private Salvage Company
A private barge and tugboat arrived on Friday, April 12, to help in removing the tow truck from the bottom of the river. Global Diving and Salvage, a Bay area salvage outfit, is being paid by the family’s insurance. In order to do this, the family needed to obtain power of attorney of the towing company. As of Friday morning, the barge needed to be stabilized before the search could commence. For two days, the salvage crew worked to bring the tow truck out of the water. The family was on shore watching as the truck was lifted from the water. The couple’s son, Justin, was there with other family members.
The Accident
The couple, who owned Justin’s Towing, probably died upon impact of the flatbed tow truck with the water given the 30-foot drop from the bridge. The tow truck went off Pioneer Bridge, which connects Sacramento and West Sacramento. It collided with a big rig at about 8:30 p.m. on March 26. The truck driver did not leave the scene and suffered no injuries. It is as yet unknown why the crash occurred. Rescue efforts by fire personnel from West Sacramento and Sacramento on the 26th were halted within two hours.
Caltrans Says Guardrail Deficient
With the investigation into why the tow truck plummeted off the bridge still underway, Caltrans inspected the site. According to a spokesperson, the rail did not comply with current rail standards. The rail was six inches less than the standardized height. The Pioneer Bridge was built in the 1960s, and the height of guardrails has changed since then.
Why the Accident Happened
At this point, it is unclear why the accident happened, and investigative efforts by the CHP are continuing. Truckers who use the bridge on a regular basis say that it is not unusual for accidents to occur on a bridge. Bridges are affected more often by weather and road conditions. This is due to the height of the bridge and the chilling effect of the water. Bridges often become slippery before other road surfaces.
What an Attorney Can Do
It is customary for signs to be posted warning drivers to be careful during icy or slippery conditions. If the state or city agency in charge of placing appropriate signage does not provide such warnings, the government may be held liable for the crash. The lawyer can also investigate why the bridge guardrails were not brought up to current requirements and the impact this had on the accident. In addition, the degree of liability attributable to the big rig driver can be determined. Using this information, the lawyer will work to obtain the compensation the family deserves in a wrongful death lawsuit. Further, the attorney may question the added emotional toll the extended recovery process had on family members, forcing them to take matters into their own hands.
Sacramento Wrongful Death Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento wrongful death lawyer. The family suffers both grief and financial loss when supportive loved ones die. They have the right to be compensated for that loss. Factors such as the emotional and financial toll young family members experience when they are robbed of their parents can also be compensated. Call me at (916) 921-6400 for compassionate, free and friendly advice or at (800) 404-5400 if you are outside the area. If it is more convenient, you can contact me online.
I’ve helped residents since 1982 with all types of car accidents, wrongful deaths, and other traumatic events.
The Million Dollar Advocates is comprised of lawyers who have won more than $1 million for a client. I belong to this forum. The National Association of Distinguished Counsel is one that awards membership to lawyers who provide their clients with legal excellence. I am proud to be a member of this group.
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Ed Smith: Body of Tow Truck Driver Shalvinesh Sharma Found
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