Steve Orellana Jr, of Reseda, Celestino Fuentes, of Burbank, Isaiah Sanchez. of Northridge, Died In Winnetka, Los Angeles Car Accident on Vanowen Street
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA (July 5, 2022) – Three young men identified as Steve Orellana Jr, Celestino Fuentes and Isaiah Sanchez have died in a Winnetka car accident along Vanowen Street.
Los Angeles County police officials are saying that the accident took place around 9:00 p.m. on Sunday. Steve Orellana Jr, Celestino Fuentes and Isaiah Sanchez were traveling down the road in a Ford Explorer when the driver hit a dip in the roadway and lost control.
The Ford SUV clipped a pickup truck head-on before colliding with an Audi. Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene of the collision in order to help all of the victims.
A total of six people were hospitalized following the crash. Sadly, Steve Orellana Jr, Celestino Fuentes and Isaiah Sanchez were beyond medical aid and died due to their injuries.
Neighbors have said that the dip in the road is a hazard that has caused other drivers to lose control. There used to be a sign warning drivers about the dip, but the sign has since fallen off.
A full investigation into the Los Angeles car accident remains ongoing at this time.
Liability For Los Angeles Car Accidents Caused By Dangerous Road Conditions
Car accidents caused by poor road conditions may seem like freak occurrences. But they are far more common than many people realize. It has been estimated that poor road conditions were a factor in nearly 1/3 of all traffic fatalities in the United States. There are many types of road conditions that could potentially contribute to an accident.
- A pothole or dip could potentially cause a driver to lose control.
- An unbanked curve could cause a driver to slide off of a roadway.
- An intersection with an obstructed line of sight could cause a driver to fail to see oncoming traffic.
Depending on the facts of any case, a municipal entity like a city could be liable for a car accident. Cities and state agencies have a legal responsibility to maintain roadways in a reasonably safe condition. Pursuant to California Government Code 835, when a state agency has actual or constructive notice of a dangerous condition on public property, they must take action to correct the dangerous condition. However, notice of the dangerous condition is not necessary when the dangerous condition was created by a negligent or wrongful act or omission of an employee of the public entity working within the scope of their employment.
Consider, for example, the case of Peter Godefroy v. The City of Los Angeles. Peter Godefroy lost control of his bicycle after hitting a pothole on Valley Vista Boulevard. The plaintiff was thrown to the ground and sustained a traumatic brain injury in the process. Attorneys for the victim sued the city and argued the poorly maintained roadway constituted a dangerous condition on public property. Eventually, the city settled with the plaintiff. There are a number of steps that should be taken after any accident involving a dangerous road condition.
- It should be determined if there is a history of collisions at the intersection.
- Surveillance footage of the accident should be sought.
- Eye witnesses should be interviewed.
- Maintenance records for the street where the crash occured should be examined.
- A thorough, independent investigation should be conducted.
The family of any person that is killed in a car accident may have legal recourse through a wrongful death claim. Damages in a civil claim can help cover lost wages, medical bills and pain and suffering. Sadly, though, cities will often fight hard to deny liability for any collision. 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 Los Angeles Car Accident Caused By A Dangerous Road Condition
We at TorkLaw extend our deepest condolences to the families of Steve Orellana Jr, Celestino Fuentes and Isaiah Sanchez. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to police. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what happened for the sake of the victims’ families. It is our sincere hope that city officials take measures to remove or mitigate this dip that is causing so many drivers to lose control. Were it not for that dip in the roadway, this tragedy may have been entirely prevented.
Do you need more information about a Los Angeles 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 those rights are being protected. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into an accident we are here for you. You are always welcome to reach out to us anytime at (888) 441-4991.
