A speeding Silverado pickup truck caused a multi-vehicle car accident on the 55 Freeway in Orange County, killing a two-year-old girl and injuring her father and her 4-month-old brother.
According to the Orange County Register, the two children, Sofia and Connor were traveling with their father, John Sales in his Mercury Mountaineer when the car in front of them, a Toyota, began to slow down. Sales slowed down his SUV to avoid an accident. A Chevrolet Silverado just behind the Sales’ car however was traveling at what officers later described as an “unsafe speed”. It couldn’t stop in time to avoid an accident, and it crashed into the Mountaineer, which in turn, hit the Toyota ahead. The two children and their father were rushed to the hospital, where Sofia, who had suffered severe injuries in the car accident, died a few hours later. John Sales and his son Connor escaped with minor injuries. The driver of the speeding Silverado, Armstrong Kitchen suffered moderate injuries in the accident.
For the Sales family, two of whose members are still receiving treatment for their injuries, this has been a terrible tragedy. Our hearts go out to them, and we wish them the strength to bear the loss of their little girl.
From what the OC Register reports, it seems that the driver of the Silverado was over the speed limit, and this resulted in him not being able to stop the car in time to avoid the crash. Speeding is one of the most common causes of car accidents in the country. A driver going above the normal speed limit has very little time, a fraction of a second in many cases, to make a decision that could impact his safety and the safety of others on the road. In that small period of time, he must decide what decision he must make, and execute that decision. It’s common in such a situation to have a complete panic reaction, and take the wrong kind of decision, which can lead to a loss of control over the vehicle, causing an accident. Even if the decision is the right one, there is very little time for the decision to be executed, and the motorist may fail to stop, swerve or turn in time, causing a collision with another vehicle, pedestrian or bicyclist. In any case, the consequences are always the same – a serious accident with a huge impact, followed by injuries, and even deaths.
A speeding car also exerts a greater force in the event of an accident, than a car that is going at an acceptable speed and is involved in a crash. High speed car crashes usually involve devastating injuries, including spinal cord injuries, severed limbs, and massive head trauma leading to brain injuries.
A person injured in a car accident where the other motorist was clearly above the speed limit can hold that motorist liable for any damages that ensue. In cases like this, it’s important that you consult with an experienced California car accident lawyer to build a winning case.
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