Rylee Munsel Died In Fresno Car Accident With Pickup Truck On Highway 99 near Clinton
FRESNO, CALIFORNIA (April 27, 2022) – An 11-year-old girl identified as Rylee Munsel has died in a Fresno car accident that injured four others on Highway 99 near Clinton.
Fresno County police officials are saying that the accident took place on April 1. Rylee Munsel was in a Toyota Corolla traveling down Highway 99 with two other children and two adults.
The driver of a Dodge truck was reportedly not paying attention to slowing traffic when they rear-ended the Toyota Corolla carrying Rylee Munsel. Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene of the collision in order to help all of the victims.
All five people inside the Toyota Corolla were taken to the hospital with serious injuries. Sadly, nearly three weeks after the accident, Rylee Munsel succumbed to her injuries at the hospital. Police interviewed the driver of the Dodge truck following the collision.
Neither alcohol nor drugs are believed to have been factors in the crash.
Liability In Fresno Car Accidents
Car accidents remain one of the leading causes of serious injury and death in the United States. According to the IIHS, “There were 33,244 fatal motor vehicle crashes in the United States in 2019 in which 36,096 deaths occurred. This resulted in 11.0 deaths per 100,000 people and 1.11 deaths per 100 million miles traveled.” The vast majority of these accidents are totally preventable. In fact, it has been estimated that nearly 93% of all collisions were due in part to driver error. What follows are just some of the factors that could influence the likelihood of a collision.
- Drivers may be fatigued which can delay their reaction times.
- Drivers can become distracted by their phones or any number of devices.
- Drivers can become intoxicated from many substances including over-the-counter medications.
- Poor vehicle maintenance may prevent a driver from being able to stop in time to prevent a crash.
Highways can easily lull people into a sense of complacency. Traffic can flow normally for hours and then shift abruptly. By far, fatigue is one of the most common factors for collisions on the freeway. A fatigued driver’s reaction times slows down dramatically. The Centers for Disease Control estimates that staying awake for only 18 hours reduces a person’s driving ability equivalent to driving with a BAC of 0.05%. Staying awake for 24 hours reduces a person’s ability to drive safely equal to driving with a BAC of 0.10%.
All drivers have a legal obligation to exercise due care in order to avoid collisions with other vehicles. Pursuant to California Vehicle Code 21703, no person shall follow another vehicle more closely than what would be safe given the prevailing conditions of the roadway. Nor shall a person drive at a speed than would be safe or reasonable under California Vehicle Code 22350. There is simply no excuse for a driver to rear-end another vehicle in their own lane. In most situations, there is a presumption of negligence on the part of any driver that rear-ends another vehicle.
If the driver of a pickup truck was working at the time of a collision, the company that they were working for could be held at fault. Many pickup trucks are used for commercial purposes such as landscaping, painting or construction. Companies are vicariously liable for the negligent actions of their employees – insofar as those employees were working within the course and scope of their job duties. There are a number of steps that should be taken after any car accident.
- Surveillance footage should be sought.
- The police report for the accident should be examined.
- Eye witnesses should be interviewed.
- Medical records should be preserved.
- A thorough, independent investigation should be conducted.
The family of any victim that died in a car accident may be able to seek some measure of justice through a wrongful death claim. A civil claim can help cover many of the expenses that can come with the sudden loss of a loved one. If the victim of an accident survived for some period of time before dying, their family may also be able to pursue a survival action claim through California Code of Civil Procedure 377.20. A wrongful death attorney can examine all of the unique facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.
Investigating A Fresno Car Accident
We at TorkLaw extend our deepest condolences to the family of Rylee Munsel. It is our sincere hope that everyone else in the car will be able to make a full recovery. There needs to be some accountability for this tragic and highly preventable crash.
Do you need more information about a Fresno car accident? Our team of consumer safety advocates are here to answer any questions that you may have. We care deeply that accident victims are aware of their rights and that negligent drivers are held to account for their actions. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into an accident we are here for you. You’re always welcome to reach out to us anytime at (888) 441-4991.
