Oroville Man Warns Highway Drivers
I’m Ed Smith, an Oroville personal injury lawyer. A new billboard on Oroville’s Highway 70 made its debut on Monday, August 28, 2017, thanks to a resident who bought the billboard after hearing about one too many fatal vehicle accidents on that particular stretch of highway.
One Too Many Tragedies
California Highway Patrol (CHP) has reported that 13 people have lost their lives on this stretch of highway since January. Don Blake, who bought the new safety-promoting billboard, did so after hearing news of Oroville’s most recent fatal collision and deciding something had to be done.
The Collision
The accident occurred on August 8, 2017, when a woman driving north on Highway 70 in a Ford Taurus pulled up behind a large construction truck.
The woman decided to pass the truck and accelerated her vehicle to over 100 miles per hour, crossed the double yellow line in the median of the highway, and drove into the oncoming lane of traffic a short distance south of Ophir Road. After driving into the oncoming lane, the woman collided head-on with an orange Chevy HHR driven by Paul Inman, a long-time employee of the California Department of Transportation (CalTrans).
The collision killed both the driver of the Taurus as well as Inman. Blake insists that the incident was not an accident, but rather that this and other deadly collisions occur because “of the decisions people make.” In this particular case, Blake stressed that “(Inman) died because another driver decided to speed…”
Personal Experience
Blake noted that a few months ago, he had his own dangerous experience on the highway. He indicated that a driver going the opposite way on Highway 70 clipped the front of Blake’s car when they tried to pass another driver. The collision totalled Blake’s car and the driver never stopped to see if Blake was ok.
Watch Youtube Video – California Highway 70: The video below will give you a good idea of what Highway 70 looks like as you travel on it. Be safe out there.
The Billboard
The new billboard is designed to be jarring and reads “Blood Alley, Slow Down!” in big, red letters. The sign can be read by southbound traffic near the site of the collision in which Inman tragically lost his life.
The sign will warn drivers on Highway 70 for a total of 16 weeks. After the first eight, the words will be changed to read “Highway of Death, Slow Down!”
Another Crash
A major injury collision involving a motorcyclist occurred on Monday shortly after the sign was debuted. Blake noted that he wasn’t surprised that a collision occurred despite his billboard, but also said that he maintains hope that the sign will serve as a valuable reminder to drivers who would otherwise make dangerous decisions that could cost lives.
Related Content from Oroville Personal Injury Lawyer, Ed Smith:
Oroville Personal Injury Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, an Oroville personal injury lawyer. Collisions can affect lives. If you or a family member has been hurt or killed by a negligent motorist, call (530) 392-9400 to get my free, friendly legal advice. Additionally, callers can reach me using (800) 404-5400.
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Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons, “Slow Down” by Petty Officer 2nd Class Mark Logico, U.S. Navy. Public Domain.
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