Two Galt Men Die on Same Day in San Joaquin Accidents

Recent accidents in the San Joaquin Valley took the life of two Galt residents on the same day. My prayers and condolences are with the families who face a difficult time in their lives.

What Happened

The first vehicular accident occurred around 6:30 p.m. on August 26 when a single vehicle crashed into a cherry orchard on Lower Sacramento Road. The second accident occurred four hours later near Camanche Reservoir on Highway 88, north and east of Liberty Road.

First Accident

According to the California Highway Patrol, a 61-year-old man, driving an Explorer in a southerly direction, suddenly left the roadway and headed into an orchard. The vehicle hit a cherry tree, spun, and rolled over on its side, striking another tree and landing on its roof. The driver was declared dead at the scene. However, his name has not been released pending notification of his family. An investigation into the reason the accident happened is ongoing.

Second Accident

The second accident happened about an hour before midnight when two vehicles crashed on State Route 88. Here, a driver, 28, heading westbound in an older model Cadillac on the roadway in an irregular manner suddenly entered the eastbound lanes and drove head-on into a Dodge driven by a Nevada man, 82 According to a representative of the CHP, the Dodge driver was uninjured after his vehicle overturned.

The Galt resident died at the scene. It is uncertain why the Cadillac drove headlong into traffic, and police said the use of drugs or alcohol impairment is under investigation. The Stockton CHP has asked if anyone has any information about the accident to contact them at the CHP office in Stockton.

Single Vehicle Rollovers

Single-vehicle rollovers are fatal 85 percent of the time and involve a vehicle turning onto its roof or side. Since other vehicles are not involved, driver behavior, such as driving above the speed limit or driving while distracted, is often at fault unless auto defects or medical emergencies are involved.

According to safercar.gov, the most common type of vehicle involved in a rollover has a narrow wheelbase and is tall such as a van, SUV, or pickup. In all, 40 percent of rollover fatalities occur where the driver is speeding, with 75 percent happening on a stretch where the posted speed limit is a minimum of 55 mp. Rollovers happen more commonly on rural roads. In addition, about 50 percent of rollover accidents involve a driver with a positive blood alcohol level.

Roof crush injuries happen when the roof is not structured in such a way as to support three times the weight of the vehicle. This may be due to design defects or a mistake made during manufacturing. Roof crush injuries are often fatal.

Head-On Collisions

Head-on collisions are often fatal due to the intensity of the impact as two moving vehicles collide, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The incidence of head-on collisions is rarer than many other types of accidents, but the chance that occupants will be killed is excellent. Such crashes often occur on rural roads without a median.

Causes of head-on collisions are driver inattention and drunk driving. Brake failure can also play a role in head-on crashe. Since driving while impaired or texting or other forms of distraction shows a driver’s lack of care toward other drivers, this may be considered negligence. Proving fault in a head-on collision may be complex since the impact propels vehicles in different directions.

An accident reconstruction specialist or engineer could use skid marks to determine fault. It is essential to quickly enable the services of an experienced personal injury lawyer who will investigate the accident before the evidence disappears.

Injuries From Head-On Crashes

Serious injuries occur due to head-on collisions. These include:

Galt Car Accident Lawyer

I am Ed Smith, a Galt car accident lawyer. Auto accidents that result in death complicate the family’s financial and emotional well-being. If you or your family has suffered a severe injury or death due to another’s negligence, please call me at (916) 921-6400 for my friendly and free advice. Outside of the calling area, use my toll-free number (800) 404-5400 to reach me.

As an injury lawyer, I have helped those in Northern California, including Galt, receive comprehensive damages in wrongful death cases and those involving traumatic injuries.

Checking my Yelp, Avvo, and Google pages is a good idea since they provide client reviews and comments. Check out my Verdicts and Settlements page for a roundup of prior cases and how I resolved them for my clients.

Members of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum are trial attorneys nationwide with verdicts/settlements of $1 million or more I am a California member.

Go to autoaccident.com, the website I founded and own. It offers essential information about different types of personal injuries.

Photo Attribution: Wikimedia Commons ambulance.png

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Two Galt Men Die on Same Day in San Joaquin Accidents