[07-16-2022] Tuolumne County, CA -Husband and Wife suffered Major Injuries in a Multi-Vehicle Collision in Long Barn Area

According to the California Highway Patrol, a husband and wife sustained major injuries after their car was struck by a stolen car on Saturday, July 16, 2022.

According to the CHP, a Sonora Area CHP Officer was informed by Merced Communication Dispatch Center that a recently stolen vehicle was seen driving westbound on Highway 108 near the Long Barn Area.

The officer successfully tracked down the stolen grey Ford F350 pickup truck. The officer parked his patrol car directly behind the Ford. Still, before he could activate his emergency lights, the driver, 49-year-old Joshua Kohl of La Mesa, CA, accelerated and crossed the double yellow lines.

Leroy Keller, 86, of Sonora, was driving his 2004 Chevrolet Silverado eastbound on Highway 108, east of Cofill Road, with his passenger, Earlene Keller, 80, of Sonora, at the time the suspect made the unsafe passing maneuver.

The two cars collided head-on. Following the collision, the right side of the Ford collided with a 2016 Chevrolet Sonic driven by 59-year-old Diana Barreno of Twain Harte. Following the collision with the Sonic, the Ford collided with an embankment before colliding with a 2018 Subaru Outback driven by 59-year-old Charles Hester of San Mateo, CA. Mr. and Ms. Keller were both seriously injured in the crash and were flown to Doctors Medical Center and Memorial Medical Center.

The occupants of the other vehicles involved were not injured. Mr. Kohl was arrested and treated for minor injuries sustained in the crash. He was taken to the Tuolumne County Jail after being treated for possessing a stolen vehicle, assault with a deadly weapon, and passing over a divided highway with injuries. This incident is not thought to have been influenced by drugs or alcohol.

MULTI-VEHICLE CRASH STATISTICS

As the state’s economy grows, so does the number of traffic accidents. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 3,304 people died in car accidents in 2010.

Driving a car in California can be extremely dangerous. The drivers could have done more to avoid these collisions. Human error is responsible for more than 94 percent of all accidents.

Depending on the severity of the injury, a car accident can be painful or even fatal. Because they occur frequently, drivers fail to recognize the dangers they face.

When three or more vehicles collide, it is called a multi-vehicle accident. A pileup of up to six vehicles can occur when two vehicles collide head-on.

According to a recent NHTSA study, multi-vehicle collisions killed over 13,000 people in 2010.

TUOLUMNE COUNTY CAR ACCIDENT LAWYERS

Because only two parties are involved, a two-vehicle collision is easier to prosecute. The situation becomes more difficult when more than one vehicle is involved in the collision.

It is more difficult to determine who is to blame. Many people could have been injured if multiple cars collided.

You may not want to trust an insurance company because determining who was at fault in a multi-vehicle collision can be difficult. It is unrealistic to expect your claim to be settled quickly because insurance companies prioritize their own financial health over the interests of their clients.

Arash Law’s Tuolumne County car accident attorneys are prepared to defend your rights and recover the compensation you deserve aggressively.

Our attorneys have dealt with many common causes, defendants, and compensation schemes. Call (888) 488-1391 for a free consultation with one of our qualified attorneys.