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Kistler Law Firm, APC
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Driver Flees Victorville Crash, Causes Another Crash Killing Himself and Another

woman calls for help from insurance after scratching car in accident

Fleeing the scene of an accident is not only illegal; it is also dangerous. Leaving the scene without reporting the accident can delay emergency response time, potentially causing greater injury to anyone hurt in the accident and increasing the chances that a victim dies as a result. The panicked flight from an accident can also lead to more crashes and destruction. A Victorville man recently proved this point in the worst possible fashion by fleeing from a minor crash and subsequently causing a second, fatal accident. Continue reading for details about the accident and California’s hit-and-run problem, and reach out to a dedicated Palmdale auto accident attorney with any questions about possible personal injury claims in the Antelope Valley.

Fleeing driver causes second, fatal accident

Around 6:47 a.m. on a recent Saturday morning, Victorville police and other officials responded to reports of a crash at the intersection of Luna Road and Highway 395. The male driver of a 2018 Honda Civic reportedly ran a red light and crashed into a silver 2007 Mercedes Benz, killing the woman driving the Mercedes. A passenger in the Mercedes was airlifted to a nearby trauma center in critical condition.

Another driver added to the story: An Adelanto man was driving his white Dodge Challenger eastbound on Palmdale Road, waiting at a red light when he was rear-ended by the Honda Civic. He gestured to the Honda driver to pull over; the driver feigned as though he would, but then sped off onto the 395. The Honda was driving recklessly, speeding and lane straddling, according to cell phone footage captured by the Adelanto man. The Civic driver sped through a red light at the intersection with Luna Road, t-boning the Mercedes. The Civic driver was pronounced dead at the scene.

California leads the country in fatal hit-and-run crashes

Despite increased safety regulations and advances in auto safety technology, hit-and-run accidents have been on the rise nationally over the past 10 years, and in California especially. California, unfortunately, has the dubious honor of having the highest number of fatal hit-and-run crashes annually, according to data from AAA’s Foundation for Traffic Safety.

In 2016, there were 2,049 deaths across the U.S. that resulted from hit-and-run crashes. Over 16% of those fatal crashes happened in California. The 337 hit-and-run deaths in California represent a 60% increase from 2009 and the highest-ever annual total for the state. While California also has a large population, California’s size does not upset its overly-large share of the fatal hit-and-run crashes: California is ranked seventh in the country for hit-and-run deaths per capita. AAA’s report shows that around 65% of people killed in hit-and-run accidents are pedestrians or cyclists.

Get Serious Legal Help after a Palmdale Auto Accident

If you have been hurt in an Antelope Valley hit-and-run accident or other car crash, contact a skilled and passionate Palmdale personal injury attorney about pursuing a claim for damages by calling the Kistler Law Firm at 661-206-6990.

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