ESCONDIDO, CALIFORNIA – A man was killed and his wife was injured early on Tuesday morning when they were thrown from their motorcycle. The couple, 49-year-old David Jensen and 52-year-old Bernadine Jensen, of Lakeside, were heading south on Interstate 15 just north of Via Rancho Parkway around 12:35 a.m. According to California Highway Patrol Officer Eric Newbury, they were on a 2005 Harley Davidson motorcycle at the time. The pair was traveling in the fast lane when they hit a barbecue that had fallen off a vehicle some time before. Newbury said they drove directly into the barbecue.
The impact of the collision sent the grill into the middle lanes where it was hit by a 2008 Toyota Prius. The car hit the barbecue and then hit David Jensen. David was pronounced dead at the scene. His wife was taken to the hospital with a broken ankle and other injuries. The driver of the Toyota stopped. Officers are currently investigating whether there were any witnesses who saw the barbecue come off the vehicle. If that driver can be found, he or she may face criminal or civil penalties. According to state law, only water and bird feathers can legally come off of a moving vehicle. All southbound lanes of the freeway were shut down until just after 3 a.m. following the accident.
Our hearts go out to the family and friends of the couple in this accident, as well as the wife who survived. As previously discussed, it is unlawful to discard anything but water and feathers from a moving vehicle. However, accidents can sometimes happen. In the event of an accident, if the responsible party failed to take reasonable steps to avoid such an outcome, he or she may be held liable. If something falls off your vehicle, you should always stop and call authorities to try to avoid this sort of tragic accident.
If you have been the victim who was injured or who lost a loved one in a tragic accident, the lawyers at Berman & Riedel, LLP in San Diego, California have the legal experience and expertise required to evaluate your case. Contact the firm to set up a case consultation. There is no charge for your initial meeting. You can also learn more about the firm and plaintiff’s law in general by visiting www.bermanlawyers.com.
