Leroy Keller, Earlene Keller Seriously Injured In Sonora Car Accident With Stolen Pickup Truck On Highway 108 In The Long Barn Area
SONORA, CALIFORNIA (July 29, 2022) – Two people identified as Leroy Keller and Earlene Keller were badly injured in a Sonora car accident with a stolen pickup truck on Highway 108.
Tuolumne County officials are saying that he incident began around 8:00 a.m. on July 16. Police located a stolen grey Ford F-350 pickup truck and pulled behind the vehicle.
The driver of the stolen truck accelerated away and crossed a pair of double yellow lines. It was at that point that the suspected thief crashed head-on into a 2004 Chevrolet Silverado with Leroy Keller and Earlene Keller.
The force of the impact caused the Ford to then hit a Sonic driven by Diana Barreno of Twain Harte. Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene of the collision in order to help the victims.
Leroy Keller and Earlene Keller were both airlifted to Doctors Medical Center and Memorial Medical Center. Police arrested the driver of the stolen pickup truck.
Liability In Sonora Car Accidents With Stolen Vehicles
Hundreds of thousands of people get their cars stolen every year. According to the Insurance Information Institute, “In 2020, 810,400 vehicles were stolen, the highest annual number of vehicles stolen since 2008, when 959,059 vehicles were stolen. In 2020, the number of vehicles stolen was up 11.8 percent from 724,872 in 2019.” Many of these vehicles are then involved in collisions, especially during police pursuits. There are a number of factors that could contribute to a car accident.
- Inclement weather
- Speeding
- Distracted driving
- Driver fatigue
All drivers have a legal obligation to exercise due care in order to avoid collisions. Many serious car accidents are due to drivers that make unsafe or illegal maneuvers. Pursuant to California Vehicle Code 21460, no person shall drive over double yellow lines in the roadway. If a driver does cross into opposing lanes of traffic, they will typically be held at fault in the event of a collision. Pickup trucks are often used for commercial purposes. If the driver of a pickup truck was working at the time of a collision, their employer could be held at fault.
In general, individuals and companies are not liable if their vehicles are stolen and then involved in a crash. But there are exceptions to this general rule. Liability for a collision with a stolen vehicle could extend to the owner of the vehicle if “special circumstances” exist. The “specials circumstances” must create a duty of care of the owner of the vehicle to third persons. Consider, for example, Carrera v. Maurice J. Sopp & Son, 177 Cal. App.4 th 366, 378-381, 99 Cal. Rptr.3d 268 (2nd Dist. 2009). Victims of car accidents tend to suffer very serious and costly injuries including:
- Broken bones
- Head injuries
- Lacerations
- Spinal cord injuries
Any person that is injured in a car accident may have legal recourse through a bodily injury claim. Damages in a civil claim can help cover lost wages, medical bills and pain and suffering. It is extremely important that evidence is properly preserved after any collision. A car accident attorney can examine all of the unique facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.
Investigating A Sonora Car Accident
We at TorkLaw extend our best wishes to Leroy Keller and Earlene Keller as they continue to recover. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to police. This was a preventable crash that should have never taken place.
Have you or someone that you care about been injured in a Sonora car accident? There are a number of laws designed to protect your rights. Our team of personal injury attorneys are here to help in any way that we can. We care deeply that accident victims get the medical and financial support that they need in order to recover. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support after a collision we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (888) 441-4991.
