One person was killed, while two others were injured after a wrong-way driver caused two consecutive crashes in Thornton, San Joaquin County, on Wednesday afternoon, May 29, 2024.
According to the California Highway Patrol, the fatal wrong-way crash happened shortly after 4:30 p.m. along the southbound Interstate 5 at Walnut Grove Road near the Sacramento County border.
Officers said that a woman driving a Ford F-150 pickup truck in the northbound lanes of I-50 suddenly crossed over into the southbound lanes for still-unknown reasons. Soon after, she collided with the side of an oncoming semi-truck before slamming head-on into another vehicle.
CHP confirmed that the wrong-way-driving woman suffered fatal injuries as a result of the incident and was pronounced dead at the scene. According to reports, two other individuals were injured from the other vehicles, but their extent of injuries has yet to be disclosed.
The official reason as to why the Ford driver drove the wrong way is still under investigation. It is unclear if drugs or alcohol played a role.
Traffic on southbound I-5 was at a standstill for an extended period as the authorities investigated and cleared up the scene.
Additional information was not immediately available.
Call Our Renowned Car Accident Lawyers In San Joaquin County
If you or a loved one has been injured in a vehicular accident, you may be entitled to compensation. Ask one of our personal injury attorneys, under the supervision of Arash Khorsandi, Esq., for advice regarding your car accident case. Our San Joaquin County injury law firm is here for you!
Avail a free consultation with our renowned San Joaquin County car accident lawyers, who will review your case, discuss the next steps, and examine all the variables that could affect your settlement amount. Additionally, they can assist you if obtaining further information or a police report proves challenging.
Our legal team has well-established careers and accolades for advocating for accident victims. The clients we have worked with have been awarded compensation totaling more than $500 million.
If you want to speak with one of our personal injury lawyers, please call (888) 488-1391 or fill out the “Do I Have a Case?” form.
What To Do After A San Joaquin County Car Accident
No one can predict a car crash or collision, but you can prepare for one. Having a car accident checklist in your glove box can help you stay calm and organized after a car crash. It can tell you what to do, what not to do, and how best to protect your rights. You aren’t alone after a collision, no matter how big or small you think it may be.
Whether you are the injured victim or the family of a deceased loved one, here’s what to do after a car accident:
- Stay Calm – Stay on the scene and make sure everyone is okay. Check yourself for injuries first, and then check others. Remain calm, and try your best to regain composure.
- Get to a Safe Location – Move your vehicle or pull over to the side of the road if you can. Put your emergency flashers on to warn other motorists of the accident. This gives them a heads-up to slow down as they approach. Get somewhere safe to wait for the police.
- Call 911 – Call the police to report your accident. Unless your crash was very minor, with no injuries or property damage, you should call the cops. Police can document the incident, gather information, and make it part of an official record.
- Exchange Information – Swap names, phone numbers, and insurance information with the other driver(s) involved in the accident. If possible, take photos of the vehicles, license plates, and other vital details.
- Do Not Admit Fault – This is one of the common mistakes people tend to make following any vehicular accident. Stick only to the facts of what happened when speaking with a police officer, but never admit fault or say “sorry.” Nevertheless, be as detailed as possible in your description of the collision.
- Seek Medical Attention – Go to the hospital or your primary doctor as soon as possible. Immediate medical care can help reduce the damage you suffer from injuries. Tests and scans can identify internal injuries that may not show symptoms yet.
- Report to Your Insurance Company – Most insurers have time limits for how soon you must report an accident in California. Call quickly and follow the agent’s directions for reporting your crash.
- Speak to Insurance Adjusters – As soon as the day of your accident, you may receive a phone call from the other party’s insurance company. You may speak to the claims adjuster, but do not give away any more information than is necessary. Do not record a statement or accept an insurance settlement offer until you speak to an attorney.
- Create a File – Keep accident-related documents together and organized. Your file should include a copy of the police report, medical bills, the other driver’s information, injury treatment plans, and any other documents you’ve collected regarding the incident.
- Call Our Car Accident Lawyers – When in doubt, give us a call at (888) 488-1391. We offer free consultations so you can discuss your car crash without risk or obligation. We can determine whether your case has merit, help you talk to insurance companies, and assist you in filing a personal injury claim if necessary. Our California car accident lawyers are here for you. Our team answers the questions and concerns of many victims.
Car Accident Statistics
Based on data released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in 2021, motor vehicle accidents accounted for 21% of the total preventable injury-related deaths in the US. Approximately 19,515 deaths involving traffic crashes were recorded from January to June 2023, which is 3.3% less than the total 20,190 deaths reported in the first half of 2022.
For the first half of 2023, the NHTSA recorded 2,061 fatalities in California due to motor vehicle accidents. The state had a total of 160,819 fatal and injury crashes in the previous year.
According to the latest data from the Transportation Injury Mapping System, 4,111 crashes resulted in injuries or fatalities in San Joaquin County in 2023.