Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Tragic Accident Near Glen Avon Claims The Lives of Two Children

After a tire apparently blew out, an SUV carrying eight passengers rolled several times on the eastbound lanes of Highway 60 in Glen Avon yesterday morning.  Citing official CHP sources, the Press Enterprise reported that the majority of the passengers were not properly seatbelted at the time of accident.  The passengers were apparently coming from Los Angeles and heading to a Fourth of July outing at Lake Perris in Riverside County.  The early investigation showed the vehicle, a Mitsubishi Montero, rolled at about 9:45 a.m. after an apparent tire blowout near Pyrite Street.  The vehicle was reportedly carrying three adults and five children.  Two of the children, ages 6 and 14, were pronounced dead at the scene, and the remaining six victims were transported to local hospitals for treatment of injuries ranging from minor to severe.

See the Press Enterprise story HERE.

This tragic accident is still under investigation by the CHP, and it is far too early to identify a definitive cause.  However, it appears witnesses reported a tire on the Montero blew out before the rollover accident.   Assuming this to be true, it will be important for those investigating the accident to determine whether the blowout resulted from striking an object in the road, a product defect in the tire,  inadequate tire pressure or a combination of some or all of these factors.  Additionally, the driver's reaction to the sudden deflation of the tire will determine whether human error contributed to the severity of the accident.  Important elements of accident reconstruction and human factors will need to be evaluated in order to best determine how and why this horrific accident occurred.

Compensation for victims of accidents caused by a defective product, should be an important concern for all Californians.  When a consumer is injured or killed because of an unsafe product, including a vehicle tire, the manufacturer should be held accountable.  An Orange County product liability lawyer with experience at handling such cases can make a fair assessment of these claims.  Mr. Ralph has more than 20 years years of experience handling personal injury cases, including just this type.  He can be reached at 714-919-4415 for a FREE CONSULTATION.


Have you or a loved one been injured in an accident involving the failure of a defective product?
  • Nothing in this post is intended to suggest the Law Offices of Paul W. Ralph currently represents anyone involved in the news story above.  This posting should not be construed as legal advice or an opinion on the merit of any particular matter.  A consultation is the best way to obtain an assessment of your potential case.

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