Trailer Accident in San Diego Critically Injures 4-Year-Old

On Sunday afternoon , a man driving a Nissan pickup and pulling a watercraft trailer apparently lost control and struck a guardrail in San Diego.  According to KTLA news, the Nissan flipped over and then came to rest on its side.  The driver of the truck, 40-year-old Angelo Fabiani Arroyo, unfastened his son's safety belt, and the 4-year-old boy fell 10 feet to the ground.  Arroyo ran from the scene, and other motorists took care of the child until emergency personnel arrived.  The boy sustained major head trauma and was in critical condition at Rady Children's Hospital.  Anyone with information concerning the location of Arroyo has been asked to call the CHP at (619) 220-5492.

Cause of This Accident and Trailer Safety

While the precise cause of the accident above is unknown, some witnesses apparently indicated that the Arroyo vehicle simply drifted to the right of the roadway and into a guardrail for some unknown reason.  This could be a reflection of driver inattention, distraction or impairment.  However, accidents involving vehicles pulling trailers are fairly common and certain safety precautions should be taken before and while pulling a trailer, according to the California Department of Motor Vehicles.  Trailer-related tragedies are not unique, and they are often reported in the news media.

Fleeing the Scene of An Accident

As mentioned in the KTLA story, Arroyo fled the scene of this tragic accident after he apparently unbuckled his son, causing him to fall 10 feet to the ground.  Arroyo's flight could have been from the shock of the situation or because of his consciousness of guilt for having caused the accident or his son's fall, or both.  It is impossible to fathom what would cause a father to leave their badly injured child laying in the middle of a freeway.  Putting aside the inhumanity, fleeing the scene of an injury accident in California is actually a crime, and Arroyo is likely to have to answer for that and the injuries to his son.

If you or a loved one have been injured in an auto accident caused by someone else's negligence, contacting an injury attorney should be the first step to obtaining compensation for the injuries and damages sustained.

SOURCE:  CHP Seeks Driver Who Fled Accident, Leaving Injured Child, KTLA News, June 3, 2013, by Kennedy Ryan