Pregnant Woman Killed in Lancaster Crash With Suspect of Police Pursuit
A terrible tragedy occurred on a recent Monday night in Lancaster when a police chase ended in a fatal car crash. A reckless driver fled from police during a traffic stop, leading to a high-speed chase and a collision with an innocent passer-by. To learn more about the accident and the victims, continue reading. Reach out to a dedicated Lancaster car accident lawyer if you or a loved one has been hurt by a reckless driver in the Antelope Valley.
Lancaster Driver Flees Police, Crashes, Flees Crash Scene
At around 9:45 p.m. on a recent Monday night, police deputies spotted a driver engaging in erratic driving while heading eastbound on Avenue K around 12th Street West in Lancaster. The deputies attempted to stop the driver and pull his Dodge Ram pickup over on suspicion of driving while intoxicated. The driver refused to comply with the officers’ orders and fled.
Deputies initiated a chase on Avenue J-8 as the suspect continued to flee. The suspect ran a red light at the intersection of Avenue J-8 and 10th Street West, where he then crashed his pickup into a red Dodge Avenger. After the crash, the suspect again fled.
The woman driving the Avenger was taken to nearby Antelope Valley Hospital, where she ultimately succumbed to her injuries. Tragically, the woman was pregnant at the time of the accident, and her unborn child also passed away.
As of September 9, 2020, police were still searching for the suspect.
Punitive Damages May be Available for the Family
Car accident victims are typically able to recover what are known as “compensatory damages” from negligent drivers. Compensatory damages are intended to “compensate” the victim by paying the victim back for the monetary and psychological harm a car crash has caused them. Under certain circumstances, injured plaintiffs might also be able to recover “punitive” damages. Punitive damages are intended to punish a wrongdoer rather than compensate an injured victim and are reserved for situations in which a defendant’s conduct goes beyond mere negligence and enters the realm of malicious or especially reckless behavior.
In car crashes, punitive damages may be available when a driver’s conduct is egregiously bad. They may be available after a fatal drunk driving accident, for example. Recklessly fleeing from the police and the scene of an accident, as well as suspected drunk driving, almost certainly qualifies as sufficiently egregious conduct to merit punitive damages. Fleeing from the police and engaging in a hit and run is wrongful, dangerous behavior that creates an obvious risk of death and destruction. Although nothing can fill the gap left by a lost loved one, in this instance, the family of the deceased woman may be able to ensure that the criminal driver faces justice in both the criminal and civil courts for his actions.
If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a drunk driving or hit-and-run accident in California, talk to a zealous and passionate Lancaster car crash attorney about pursuing a claim for damages by calling the Kistler Law Firm at 661-206-6990.
