SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA – A 14-year-old boy was killed Sunday when the pickup truck he was riding in slid off Interstate 80 near Blue Canyon and hit a tree. The road was covered in ice and snow at the time of the accident. Paramedics used the Jaws of Life to remove the driver of the truck, 62-year-old Jess Valencia, from the 2003 Toyota Tacoma. Valencia was taken to Sutter Roseville Medical Center with moderate injuries. According to the California Highway Patrol, the victim Jack Conner tragically died at the scene.
Valencia had been driving west on Interstate 80 around 11 a.m. when he apparently lost control of the vehicle. The pickup spun around and slid off the road and down an embankment before hitting the tree. Valencia and Conner were both wearing seatbelts at the time of the accident but the pickup truck’s airbags did not deploy for unknown reasons.
The CHP’s preliminary report indicates that excessive speed on a snow covered hill contributed to the accident. Neither drugs nor alcohol were involved. After the accident, CHP’s Gold Run commander John Arrabit reminded drivers to use caution while driving in inclement weather. He said drivers should drive slower, allow extra time, and leave more distance between themselves and other cars.
With the current weather in California, San Diego rains included, Arrabit’s advice should be heeded by all drivers. Without the proper care, it is possible for people to be seriously injured or killed in car accidents. Our hearts go out to Conner’s family following their tragic loss.
When a person fails to exercise the proper level of care while operating a vehicle, they may be held liable for any death or injury they cause as a result. In cases where someone has died, the surviving family members may have a claim for wrongful death. Berman & Riedel, LLP is a plaintiff’s law firm that has handled many wrongful death cases with legal professionalism and compassion. If you have lost a loved one in a tragic accident, contact the firm by phone at 858 350 8855 or through the firm’s main website at www.bermanlawyers.com.
