Vehicle Crashes 300 Feet Into Ravine in Rural Area
Several people died, and others suffered injuries on December 19 when their vehicle crashed into a ravine. The accident happened in a rural area on a dirt road during the evening hours. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) reported that the Jeep went off the roadway and crashed about 300 feet down with two minors on board.
Helicopter and ATVs Used to Reach Car Accident Scene
A helicopter was provided by the CHP to rescue those in the ravine as well as ATVs due to the inaccessibility of the area. A minimum of one person was taken by air to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital. Two people perished because of the car accident, while three others suffered major injuries.
Rescuers Hurry Due to Approaching Heavy Fog
Because of heavy fog arriving in the area, the rescue personnel had only a short time to remove the injured and deceased. One critical patient was taken to Walnut Creek to John Muir Medical Center because Santa Rosa Memorial was fogged over. The two injured minors were taken to a trauma center.
Santa Rosa police are assisting in investigating the cause of the car crash. The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office has recently identified the decedents as 32-year-old Santa Rosa resident Matthew Sousa and his 7-year-old son. A GoFundMe page has been created on behalf of the Sousa family.
Officials Confirm Third Fatality Following Incident
On Friday, December 23, 2022, the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the third fatality from the incident. Officials said 49-year-old Justin Gregori of Sebastopol tried to help save his friend, Matthew Sousa, but his vehicle also went down the same embankment. Sadly, Mr. Gregori succumbed to his injuries from the incident. A GoFundMe page has been set up in support of the Gregori family.
Outside Influences That Can Cause a Car Accident
In some cases, a defect in the automobile can lead to an accident. For example, faulty brakes or an accelerator that sticks can cause the driver to lose control. This is why it is important to recover and retain the vehicle, so engineers can examine it for defects. If one is found that caused the crash, an auto product liability claim may be placed against the parts designer, manufacturer and others.
The Benefits of Calling an Injury Lawyer
Whether you’ve suffered a personal injury or lost a loved one to wrongful death, an accident attorney may be able to help you recover compensation. We know that accidents aren’t always as they appear initially. Only an investigation can uncover what truly happened. If it turns out you weren’t at fault, we can help you or the grieving family in recovering the damages you deserve. We conduct our own investigation, which can include:
- Any witnesses to the car accident are interviewed to understand what they saw and how it happened. In some cases, a witness taped the accident as it happened on their cell phone.
- Surveillance cameras in the area are examined to see if any of them captured the collision as it occurred.
- The accident report filed by the police is examined for errors. Errors can be corrected. If they are not, it can affect the injured party’s or family’s ability to file a claim.
- The investigators perform a forensic reconstruction of the car accident, which can determine what happened. Reconstruction evidence as to fault is accepted both by civil courts and by insurance carriers.
Novato Personal Injury Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, and I’m a Novato personal injury lawyer. When someone in the family dies or sustains an injury in a collision, everyone suffers. If negligence caused the accident, the injured parties or families of the deceased may be able to recover compensation. To speak with us for free and friendly advice, please call (415) 521-2515 or (800) 404-5400. Our accident attorneys are also available online. We can arrange a virtual or in-person consultation so that one of our accident attorneys can go over your case and explain to you the options for pursuing compensation and at no charge to you.
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Photo attribution: Image by Vladyslav Topyekha from Pixabay
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