Good Samaritan Killed by Suspected Drunk Driver
On Sunday, April 11, 2021, a 47-year-old woman was killed by a suspected drunk driver after stopping to help a crash victim. The tragic incident occurred on Interstate Highway 80 in Dixon, California, early morning hours.
Facts of the Incident
According to a representative from the California Highway Patrol (CHP), the initial collision occurred at approximately 2:30 a.m., when a black Mazda CX5 was traveling westbound on I-80 near Dixon Avenue at a high rate of speed and collided with the rear of a silver Hyundai Elantra. The Mazda then came to a rest and blocked lanes on the interstate. Several witnesses to the incident stopped and helped those involved in the crash.
Approximately three minutes after the first collision, a red Toyota Tacoma truck, driven by 29-year-old Mason Wessel, came upon the scene and collided with a Toyota Prius, driven by a 26-year-old woman from Suisun City. The Tacoma kept traveling forward and crashed into the black Mazda and its driver – a Vallejo man – standing in the road outside his vehicle.
The Tacoma continued to travel forward and struck a woman from Dixon, one of the Good Samaritans who had stopped to render aid to those involved in the initial crash. Sadly, the 47-year-old Dixon woman sustained fatal injuries. The Solano County Coroner’s Office has recently identified her as Julie Ormonde Phillips. A GoFundMe page has been created for Ms. Phillips and her family to help cover final resting expenses.
The CHP requests that anyone with pertinent information or who witnessed the event contact Officer Padilla at the Solano CHP Office at 707-428-2100.
Driver Arrested for Felony DUI
Mason Wessel, the driver of the red Toyota Tacoma, was arrested for felony DUI. He suffered significant injuries in the crash and was transported to Kaiser Hospital in Vacaville. The driver of the black Mazda, who was struck while standing outside his vehicle, suffered significant injuries. The Prius driver sustained minor injuries.
Watch the YouTube video posted by the NHTSA about how deadly drunk driving can be.
Good Samaritan Laws in California
The term “Good Samaritan” has its origins in the Bible. It describes a person who assists others solely for helping and not for any praise or reward. In this tragic case, the 47-year-old victim stopped to render aid after witnessing a car crash. The law in California is that if a Good Samaritan accidentally injures someone in their attempt to help, they will likely not be liable for any damages that result from their efforts. This law is designed to encourage citizens to step in and assist during emergencies without fear that they will be sued. The language for the law surrounding the legal protection of Good Samaritans can be found in the California Health and Safety Code 1799.102.
Although the helper is legally protected if he or she inadvertently harms someone during their assistance, unfortunately, there is no magical protection against harm coming to the Good Samaritan. It can be hazardous to stop on a highway to render aid to accident victims. In this situation, the Good Samaritans were setting aside their fears and putting themselves in danger to altruistically help some of their fellow humans. Sadly, this resulted in injuries and, in one case, a senseless, wrongful death. There are legal remedies for monetary recovery for the injured parties and the deceased’s family; an experienced Dixon personal injury lawyer can help.
Dixon Wrongful Death Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, and I have been advocating for Northern Californians for nearly 4 decades as a wrongful death lawyer in Dixon, California. It saddens us to report on such stories, where a suspected drunk driver killed a courageous woman seeking to help others. The grieving family should promptly seek expert legal help after such a tragedy. For compassionate, free, and friendly advice, don’t hesitate to call our firm at (707) 564-1900 or (800) 404-5400.
Photo Attribution: https://pixabay.com/photos/good-samaritan-samaritans-help-1037334/
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