According to media reports, a four-vehicle crash on Saturday night in La Habra has left one person dead and two suspects under arrest for felony hit-and-run. The collision reportedly occurred at about 5:30 p.m. at the intersection of Cypress Street and Lambert Road. The victim has been identified as 20-year-old, Joseph Quezada, who was transported from the scene to UCI Medical Center where he died from his injuries. The accident involved a white Toyota 4-Runner, a black Nissan Xterra, a U-Haul truck and a blue Hyundai Accent that Quezada was driving. The Orange County Register has reported that the driver and passenger of the U-Haul truck ran from the scene and were later caught by police officers.
Richard Ambriz, 18, of Santa Fe Springs and Dustin Lish, 19 of La Habra, were arrested on suspicion of felony hit-and-run. The La Habra Police Department is still investigating the cause of the crash, and anyone who may have witnessed the accident is encouraged to call 562-905-9760.
See the Orange County Register story HERE.
While the precise cause of this tragic crash is a mystery, those running from the scene have demonstrated what is generally regarded as "consciousness of guilt". The flight of a person immediately after the commission of a crime, or after he is accused of a crime, is not sufficient in itself to establish his guilt, but is a fact which, if proved, may be considered by the jury in the light of all other proved facts in deciding whether a defendant is guilty or not guilty. The weight to which this circumstance is entitled is a matter for the jury to decide. In short, when a driver flees the scene of an accident an inference may be drawn that they were responsible for causing the accident and the injuries or death that resulted. In the case above, the police will have to reconstruct the accident based on witness statements, skid marks, post-accident debris, points of rest of the vehicles and metal deformation of the vehicles. This will enable them to determine speed, direction of travel, evasive action (if any) and whether a particular driver may have violated another driver's right of way. On top of this reconstruction evidence, there will be the inferential evidence of flight, which should allow the police to assign responsibility for the accident and Quezada's death.
Compensation for the victims of automobile accidents caused by hit-and-run drivers should be an important concern for all Californians. When a driver operates their vehicle in a negligent or reckless manner so as to cause a serious or fatal accident, they should be held accountable. An Orange County auto accident lawyer with experience at handling such cases can make a fair assessment of these claims. Mr. Ralph has more than 20 years of experience handling Orange County automobile accident cases, including those involving wrongful death. He can be reached at 714-919-4415 for a FREE CONSULTATION.
Have you or a loved one been injured or killed in a motor vehicle accident caused by a negligent, hit-and-run driver?
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.
Richard Ambriz, 18, of Santa Fe Springs and Dustin Lish, 19 of La Habra, were arrested on suspicion of felony hit-and-run. The La Habra Police Department is still investigating the cause of the crash, and anyone who may have witnessed the accident is encouraged to call 562-905-9760.
See the Orange County Register story HERE.
While the precise cause of this tragic crash is a mystery, those running from the scene have demonstrated what is generally regarded as "consciousness of guilt". The flight of a person immediately after the commission of a crime, or after he is accused of a crime, is not sufficient in itself to establish his guilt, but is a fact which, if proved, may be considered by the jury in the light of all other proved facts in deciding whether a defendant is guilty or not guilty. The weight to which this circumstance is entitled is a matter for the jury to decide. In short, when a driver flees the scene of an accident an inference may be drawn that they were responsible for causing the accident and the injuries or death that resulted. In the case above, the police will have to reconstruct the accident based on witness statements, skid marks, post-accident debris, points of rest of the vehicles and metal deformation of the vehicles. This will enable them to determine speed, direction of travel, evasive action (if any) and whether a particular driver may have violated another driver's right of way. On top of this reconstruction evidence, there will be the inferential evidence of flight, which should allow the police to assign responsibility for the accident and Quezada's death.
Compensation for the victims of automobile accidents caused by hit-and-run drivers should be an important concern for all Californians. When a driver operates their vehicle in a negligent or reckless manner so as to cause a serious or fatal accident, they should be held accountable. An Orange County auto accident lawyer with experience at handling such cases can make a fair assessment of these claims. Mr. Ralph has more than 20 years of experience handling Orange County automobile accident cases, including those involving wrongful death. He can be reached at 714-919-4415 for a FREE CONSULTATION.
Have you or a loved one been injured or killed in a motor vehicle accident caused by a negligent, hit-and-run driver?
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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