Los Angeles Personal Injury Attorney

JULY 2, 2009 - A 64-year-old man died after he was hit by a vehicle as he attempted to cross a busy street, authorities said. The unidentified man was trying to catch up with some friends who had just left a 24 Hour Fitness when he was struck while crossing Gosford Road, according to the Kern County Coroner. The accident occurred about 10 p.m. in the 4400 block of Gosford. The Kern County Sheriff’s Department, who is investigating the collision, said the man was thought be intoxicated.

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JULY 2, 2009 - A kayaker is dead and another is missing after their watercraft overturned in the ocean off San Luis Obispo County, authorities said. A witness reported seeing two people in a kayak in distress off Sherwood Drive about 3 p.m. The kayak then overturned 300 to 400 yards off shore, according to the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Department. Coast Guard officials found one body, but were still searching for the other person.

JULY 2, 2009 - A 57-year-old Las Vegas woman died after the car she was driving drifted off Interstate 15 and overturned, authorities said. Shortly after noon, Marisela Hernandez was attempting to change lanes while driving north in a 2006 Toyota Solara, but swerved to avoid a sports utility vehicle that was moving into the same middle lane, according to the San Bernardino County coroner’s office. Hernandez lost control and drove off the freeway south of Lenwood Road, causing the vehicle to overturn several times, officials said. She was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics. A passenger in the car was airlifted to a hospital with major injuries. Animal control was also called to pick up a white poodle found in the vehicle. The California Highway Patrol is investigating the cause of the crash.

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JULY 2, 2009 - A 63-year-old woman died when the sedan she was riding in was broadsided by a sports utility vehicle, authorities said. Karen Lee Hamlin of Desert Hot Springs was a front-seat passenger in a Nissan Sentra that was struck by a Ford Expedition at the intersection of Palm Drive and Varner Road, according to Riverside County coroner’s officials. The crash occurred about 3:20 p.m., and Hamlin was pronounced dead about 35 minutes later at Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, officials said. The California Highway Patrol is investigating the collision.

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JULY 2, 2009 - A man died when his speeding car collided with a sports utility vehicle at an intersection in Orange, authorities said. The unidentified man was driving a maroon older-model Honda Accord north on Batavia Street when he lost control and hit a curb about 9:35 p.m., according to a sergeant with the Orange Police Department. The Accord then careened across the road and into oncoming traffic, colliding with a GMC Denali that was traveling south on Batavia, authorities said. The driver of the Accord died at the scene just north of Fletcher Street. The driver of the Denali complained of pain but was not hospitalized. A female passenger in the Denali complained of pain and was transported to a local hospital, authorities said. Police said they believe speed and alcohol played a role in the collision, but traffic investigators are continuing their investigation.

JULY 2, 2009 - A five-car collision on the 91 (Artesia) Freeway injured six people, including one critically, authorities said. The accident happened about 4:50 a.m. in the eastbound lanes between Cherry Avenue and Paramount Boulevard, according to the California Highway Patrol. One vehicle caught fire and two motorists were trapped in their cars, according to the Long Beach Fire Department. Paramedics transferred the critically injured person to a local hospital, officials said. The others were treated at the scene. The CHP is investigating the cause of the collision.

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JULY 1, 2009 - The body of a 21-year-old man was recovered after he fell 200 feet to his death while hiking in Eaton Canyon, authorities said. The unidentified Pasadena man was hiking with a 17-year-old companion when the victim attempted to slide down a steep slope but got stuck, according to the friend. The 17 year old tried to extend a branch to help, but the victim slipped and fell. The friend rushed to his aid, but found him bleeding and slumped over a tree. Rescuers arrived about 15 minutes later and discovered the man was indeed dead.

JULY 1, 2009 - A 24-year-old man died after falling from the cliffs at Point Fermin Park, authorities said. The unidentified man apparently climbed over a fence that separates the cliff from a picnic area and fell about 100 feet to the rocks below, according to a battalion chief with the Los Angeles Fire Department. Rescuers were alerted shortly before 8 p.m. and they located the victim, who was not breathing. The San Pedro cliffs have been the site of numerous falls over the years, including the death of USC place kicker Mario Danelo in 2007.

JULY 1, 2009 - An 18-year-old man from Highland died when his motorcycle veered off Interstate 10, authorities said. Edgar Hernandez-Uribe was riding a 2007 Yamaha east on I-10 just east of Pepper Avenue when he crashed about 3:30 a.m., according to the California Highway Patrol. The impact threw him off the motorcycle. Paramedics responded and pronounced Hernandez-Uribe dead at the scene. The CHP is investigating the cause of the accident.

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JUNE 30, 2009 - A 55-year-old man died after he was struck by a car while riding his bike, authorities said. Alton Saceaux of Bakersfield was pedaling south in the right-hand lane of four-lane South Union Avenue when he was hit about 10:45 p.m. by a Ford-F350 pickup truck, according to the California Highway Patrol. The driver of the truck, identified as 67-year-old Douglas Kaiser, left the scene, but later returned when he learned a driving under the influence investigation had begun, authorities said. Kaiser was arrested on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter while driving drunk, felony drunk driving and hit-and-run, authorities said. The CHP is continuing its investigation.