Man Dies After Crashing into Tree in Redding

Man Dies After Crashing Into Tree in Redding

A man was discovered with severe injuries after wrecking his vehicle near Cottonwood, California, early Friday, August 4. Justin Lee Smoak was driving south along Eighmy Road sometime during the night, either Thursday or early morning Friday, in a full-size 1993 Chevrolet Cheyenne pickup truck. When he was near Evergreen Road, for reasons unknown, Justin’s vehicle went off the road and hit a fence, ran over a mailbox, and finally hit a tree that caved in the driver’s side of the pickup truck.

The impact and damage from the tree caused severe traumatic injuries, which proved fatal to Smoak. He was pronounced dead by the California Highway Patrol officers who responded to the scene. Highway patrol officer Jesse Rawlins reported that the victim was wearing his seatbelt at the time of the crash and that the CHP is investigating the reasons behind the collision. It seems like neither drugs nor alcohol were involved in this tragic accident. The CHP was called in at 6:23 a.m. by a Tehama County Sheriff’s Deputy who saw the wreckage while on patrol.

Photos of the wreckage show the front of the truck ultimately pushed inwards, and the A-pillar and steering wheel are completely caved in. The back of the driver’s seat was pushed back and up against the rear bench seat.

We extend our sincere and heartfelt condolences to the friends and loved ones of Justin Smoak, who passed away in this accident.

Fatalities in Accidents

In the early 1990s, researchers looked at the time and cause of death after car accidents. Almost half of all fatalities, 46%, occurred within 30 minutes of an accident. 24% died between 30 and 90 minutes. 90% of all the deaths studied were within 24 hours after the incident. Most of these deaths were from significant injuries that were most likely untreatable. Injuries that caused death within 90 minutes were also analyzed, and researchers found that 52% were head injuries and 36% were injuries to the chest and upper body region. Head and neck injuries are the most fatal and often kill instantly or within minutes. Severe injuries to the circulatory and respiratory systems are also major causes of death.

With the rise in technology, medical care, and safety systems in vehicles, the deadliness of traffic accidents has decreased since these studies were done. Nowadays, everyone has cell phones, and those involved or witnesses often report accidents immediately. Medical practices, devices, and professionals are getting better and better each decade, which can prevent a lot more fatalities on our roads as they treat the victims of accidents. Cars have also become much safer over the years as engineers and manufacturers design crumple zones and better materials on modern vehicles that protect their occupants.

Redding Wrongful Death Lawyer

I’m Ed Smith, a Redding Wrongful Death Lawyer. If you know someone who has passed away in an accident, please call my office at 530-392-9400 or 800-404-5400 for free, friendly advice. I have worked for the people of Redding and Northern California for 35 years. My experience and expertise can help you through these struggling times.

Check out my former verdicts and settlements page on my autoaccident.com website to see how I have helped others in similar situations. My website also has daily articles like this, reporting news and helpful information on car accidents, wrongful deaths, personal injury, and more.

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Sources:

http://www.redding.com/story/news/local/2017/08/04/chp-reporting-fatality-near-cottonwood/539491001/
http://www.redbluffdailynews.com/general-news/20170804/man-dies-in-cottonwood-accident-chp-seeks-information?source=most_viewed
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3400203/
Image Source: By California HP – Wikimedia Commons

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Man Dies After Crashing into Tree in Redding