Leonard Rarick, of San Diego, Died In Castaic Car Accident After Hitting Loose Tire On The 5 Freeway
CASTAIC, CALIFORNIA (June 28, 2022) – Leonard Rarick has tragically died in a Castaic car accident after a tire came off of a Ford F-350 truck on the 5 Freeway.
Los Angeles County police officials are saying that the accident took place around 9:30 a.m. on Saturday. A Ford F-350 truck was towing a trailer down the roadway when it struck an object causing a tire to come off the trailer.
The wheel from the trailer struck a Ford Escape and then struck a Toyota Avalon driven by Leonard Rarick. That impact then caused the Toyota Avalon to hit a Honda Accord.
Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene of the collision in order to help all of the victims. A passenger in the Toyota Avalon was taken to the Henry Mayo Hospital in order to receive treatment.
Sadly, Leonard Rarick was pronounced dead at the scene. A full investigation remains ongoing at this time.
Liability In Castaic Car Accidents
Thousands of accidents are caused by debris that is left in the roadway. According to the AAA Foundation, “road debris was a factor in an estimated average of 50,658 police-reported crashes (95% Confidence Interval: 42,066 – 59,250) which resulted in 9,805 injuries (7,714 – 11,896) and 125 deaths (104 – 144) annually in the United States over years 2011 – 2014.” Much of the debris that gets left on the roadway falls off of trucks or other vehicles. There are a number of steps that drivers should take in order to avoid leaving debris in the roadway.
- Vehicles should be properly maintained so that parts do not fall off.
- Items such as furniture should be properly tied down to prevent them from coming loose.
- Cities should remove debris left in the roadway when they are made aware of it.
Depending on the facts of any case, there could be numerous sources of liability for any accident. Pursuant to California Vehicle Code 23113, any person who drops any material in the roadway must immediately remove the material or cause it to be removed. The person or company that left debris in the roadway could be held liable for an accident caused by the debris. All drivers have a legal responsibility to properly secure their loads to prevent them from becoming hazards in the roadway. A large number of debris ends up in the roadway when it is not properly secured to a vehicle.
The company responsible for maintaining the tires on a truck or trailer could also potentially be liable for an accident. Far from being “freak occurrences,” tires coming off a vehicle often involve some amount of oversight and negligence. For example, a dealership may not have tightened the lug nuts on a tire per the manufacturer’s instructions. This could lead to a tire becoming loose and coming off over time. There are a number of steps that should be taken after any accident.
- Eye witnesses should be interviewed.
- Medical records should be preserved.
- Maintenance records should be examined.
- A thorough, independent investigation should be conducted.
The family of any victim that died 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, drivers will often fight hard to deny liability for any accident involving debris in the roadway. It may also be difficult to determine where the debris came from. 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 Castaic Car Accident
We at TorkLaw extend our deepest condolences to the family of Leonard Rarick. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to police. There needs to be a thorough investigation for the sake of all who have lost so much.
Do you need more information about a Castaic 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 can reach out to us anytime at (888) 441-4991.
