One Killed in Chico Area Highway
One individual lost their life in a multi-vehicle collision involving a small sedan and a truck owned by Cal Fire that occurred on Friday, March 9, 2018.
My condolences are offered to those who have lost their loved one due to this tragic accident.
Collision Details
Rick Carhart, Butte County Cal Fire’s Information Officer, reported that the incident occurred just prior to 2:15 p.m. on Highway 99 north of the Keefer Road intersection. Carhart indicated that a Cal Fire utility truck had been driving northbound on the highway and had been occupied by two individuals at the time of the accident.
At the same time, a light-blue Geo Prism had been driving southbound when, according to Carhart, the Prism driver veered off the roadway’s right-hand shoulder and struck a traffic sign. After striking the sign, the driver attempted to correct his vehicle but oversteered and entered the northbound highway lane.
After entering the opposite lane, the Prism collided head-on on with the utility truck, causing major damage to the front end of the Prism and pushing the truck off of the road where it collided head-on with a telephone pole.
Response and Injuries
Accident responders reported that the driver of the Prism lost his life during the collision. The man was only identified as a 77-year-old Colfax resident.
The occupants of the Cal Fire vehicle, identified as Cody McNamara, a 28-year-old Anderson resident, and Greg Babcock, a 30-year-old Redding resident, both suffered traumatic injuries as a result of the crash. The men were taken to the Enloe Medical Center and have since been reported as in stable condition.
Investigation
A Major Accident Investigation Team (MAIT) was called to the accident scene from Sacramento in order to determine what factors were involved in the crash. Traffic was hampered for hours while investigations and roadway cleanup were conducted, causing miles and miles of traffic.
While officials have not yet stated what they suspect to have caused the accident, potential factors include a medical emergency that caused the Prism driver to swerve, a malfunctioning vehicle part, driver distraction, a defect of the roadway, a roadway obstacle, and more. Additionally, officials have not made a statement regarding whether or not DUI is a suspected collision factor.
Government Entity Claims
When making a personal injury or wrongful death claim against a government entity, there are specific guidelines that an experienced lawyer will know how to navigate. One particularly important rule is that claims against government entities must be filed within six months of the accident date.
While the stated purpose for this rule is to allow the government enough time to fix whatever problem may have caused the accident, it allows government parties an advantage over those seeking compensation who may not know about the stringent time constraint. To learn more about receiving fair compensation in wrongful death cases that involve government entities, see my website.
More From Ed Smith, Chico Personal Injury Lawyer
Chico Personal Injury Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Chico personal injury lawyer. A fatal auto accident can leave people feeling unsure of what to do next, but a good lawyer can help. To receive friendly, free advice about your case, contact me at (530) 392-9400. You can also call (800) 404-5400 or go to AutoAccident.com.
Since 1982, I’ve assisted Chico area residents with resolving personal injury and wrongful death cases, ensuring that they receive the full compensation they deserve.
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I’m in the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and have settled and won several cases exceeding $1,000,000 for my clients.
See my Prior Verdicts and Settlements at this site.
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pic: “Highway Crash” by Netto Figueiredo through Creative Commons 0
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