SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – The mother of a man killed in Carlsbad while on his motorcycle traveled from Cape Cod to the West Coast this week. She is here to attend the arraignment of the suspected drunk driver who killed her son, as well as to take his ashes back with her.
42-year-old Wayne Francis and his lifelong friend, Ernie Largey, were on vacation in Southern California on October 10th. The men had just arrived after traveling from their homes in Eastham, Massachusetts through Las Vegas and on to Southern California. The men had just checked into a Carlsbad hotel and were going to dinner on their motorcycles. The men were sitting on their bikes, stopped at a light, talking about the weather when a black Mercedes appeared and hit Wayne Francis.
According to Ernie Largey, all he heard was an “explosion”. Wayne Francis had been hit from behind and thrown off his motorcycle. Largey told investigators and the Francis family that the Mercedes was traveling at a very high speed and did not brake at all prior to hitting Francis. Francis tragically died on the street before he could be transported to the hospital. When Carlsbad police arrived at the scene, they arrested the 51-year-old driver of the Mercedes, Keith Roles. They charged him with vehicular manslaughter and felony driving under the influence.
Francis was born and raised in Eastham, near Cape Cod. He was a commercial fisherman and he skippered his father’s boats, as well as those owned by other people. Francis and Largey had left the East Coast without an itinerary and were exploring cities on their way west. Francis’ father, sister and brother hope to retrace his steps and see the places he saw before he was killed in Carlsbad. The family plans to return to the West Coast for any and all trial dates Roles may have.
The unexpected loss of a loved one influences entire families as this case clearly demonstrates. If the loss of a loved one was caused by the reckless or negligent actions of a third party, the surviving family members may be able to recover some losses from the responsible person. In California, a wrongful death action is sometimes available to close surviving family members for the loss of support they suffer with the death.
There are many laws and standards for wrongful death litigation. If you think you might have a case following the death of a loved one, you need a qualified lawyer to investigate your case and explain your legal options. Berman & Riedel, LLP is a plaintiff’s law firm with its main offices in San Diego, California. Are lawyers are, however, licensed to practice law throughout the state of California. If you have lost a loved one and feel you may have a claim for wrongful death, contact the experienced and caring lawyers at Berman & Riedel, LLP to ensure your legal rights are protected.
