[03-04-2022] Santa Barbara County, CA – One Killed, Two Others Hurt After a Wrong-Way Crash in Orcutt

One person was killed while two others were seriously hurt following a major wrong-way collision in Orcutt on Friday night, March 4, 2022.

The deadly collision transpired at approximately 8:59 p.m. at Highway 135 (Orcutt Expressway) and Union Valley Parkway.

A 2002 Honda was traveling northbound on the southbound lanes of Highway 135 and collided head-on with an oncoming 2017 Toyota. It’s unclear why the Honda driver was traveling in the wrong direction.

The wrong-way driver was identified as 20-year-old Jorge Valera R. Unfortunately, he could not survive his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Meanwhile, the other driver and his passenger sustained major injuries in the mishap and were rushed to an area hospital for treatment.

Authorities suspect that intoxication may have been a factor in the accident. Local authorities are further investigating the case.

Fatal Wrong-Way Collision Statistics

Millions of people are injured in car accidents on America’s highways every year. Every year, tens of thousands of drivers and passengers are killed in car accidents.

According to the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) of the United States Department of Transportation, there were 33,654 fatal vehicle crashes in 2018, resulting in 36,560 deaths.

A wrong-way accident occurred in this case. Every year, roughly 355 wrong-way drivers are involved in fatal car accidents in the United States. It is predicted that each collision caused by a wrong-way driver results in 1.34 fatalities.

Accidents on the wrong side of the road frequently result in significant injuries. These injuries might result in permanent impairments or even death. According to one study, driving in the wrong lane increases the likelihood of a deadly collision by 27 times.

There are several reasons why these accidents occur; they mainly happen because of drunk drivers, distracted drivers, and overfatigued drivers.

Fatal Car Accident Lawyers for Victims in Santa Barbara County

Wrong-way collisions can cause debilitating injuries that require lifelong medical treatment or even death.

The abrupt and unexpected death of a loved one, among other things, can be incredibly perplexing. It would help if you didn’t have to be confused or overwhelmed by wrongful death laws during this tough time. An attorney from our firm can assist you with the legal proceedings if you or a loved one has been killed in a car accident.

Through the wrongful death claim, the victim’s family can receive compensation for their medical fees, funeral costs, the deceased’s agony and suffering, and the loss of companionship.

You may count on the legal professionals at Arash Law to assist you with your case. Our firm has a wealth of experience and resources to ensure that our clients deserve justice. Arash Law’s Santa Barbara County fatal car accident lawyers can be reached at (888) 488-1391 for a free consultation.