[12-16-2024] Merced County, CA – Two Killed, One-Year-Old Injured After Two-Vehicle Crash Involving Semi-Truck on Highway 152

Two people were killed, and a one-year-old girl sustained minor injuries in a late-night collision involving a Kia and a semi-truck in Merced County on Monday, December 16, 2024.

The crash occurred around 11:50 p.m. at the intersection of Highway 152 and Turner Island Road, between Los Banos and Dos Palos.

According to the California Highway Patrol, a Kia carrying a man, a woman, and an infant was traveling south on Turner Island Road when the driver failed to stop and drove into the path of a westbound semi-truck on Highway 152.

Both vehicles came to rest in the center median. The man and woman in the Kia, both residents of Dos Palos, were pronounced dead at the scene. Their identities have not been released. The infant was transported to Valley Children’s Hospital with minor injuries. The semi-truck driver was not injured.

Further details remain under investigation.

Reach Out To The Trusted Merced County Accident Attorneys

If you were injured or lost a loved one in a traffic accident, you may be entitled to financial compensation. Ask our experienced personal injury attorneys, led by the esteemed Arash Khorsandi, Esq., for legal advice regarding your possible case. Our Merced County accident lawyers are here for you!

Get a free initial consultation with our respected truck accident attorneys, who will review your case, discuss the next steps, and examine all the factors that could affect your settlement amount. They can also assist you if obtaining further information or a police report proves challenging.

Our car accident lawyers have well-established careers and accolades for representing accident victims. The clients we have worked with have been awarded compensation totaling more than $750 Million.

Call (888) 488-1391 or fill out the “Do I Have a Case?” form to speak with one of our personal injury lawyers.

Steps To Take After A Truck Accident In Merced County, CA

After a truck accident, it is essential to remain on the scene and wait for the authorities and medical personnel to arrive. Move the vehicle off the road if possible. Then, after gathering evidence to support filing a truck accident claim, inform your insurance provider and contact our award-winning law firm.

Here is a detailed guide on what you should do after a truck-related accident:

1. Move vehicles to the shoulder of the road. If possible and safe, after documenting the scene by taking pictures and videos, move your vehicle to the shoulder and turn on your hazard lights to alert other motorists. If moving the vehicles is not possible or safe, follow the instructions of emergency responders.
2. Contact emergency responders and immediately seek medical attention. Even if you think you were uninjured, let the emergency personnel examine you, as some injuries may appear days later. Records of medical visits, diagnosis, treatment, medications, and related expenses are valuable for building a strong case.
3. Gather information from other drivers involved. Whenever possible, exchange all necessary information with the other drivers involved in the crash. This includes each party’s name, contact number, license number, plate number, insurance provider, and policy number.
4. If you are able, take photos and videos of the scene. Take as many pictures and videos as possible, documenting the state of your car, the other vehicles involved, any nearby objects like skid marks and guardrails, and even conversations or interactions with other people.
5. Take photos of your injuries. Taking pictures of the injuries you or others have sustained is one essential way to document the damages you have incurred.
6. Obtain witness testimonies. When an accident occurs, many individuals are usually around to help out. Exchange as much information as you can with them to strengthen your case.
7. Notify your insurance provider about the accident. Don’t feel obligated to provide any official or recorded statements right away. Your financial recovery could be negatively impacted if you confess fault for the accident or allow yourself to be misled into doing so.
8. 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. Be as detailed as possible in your description of the collision.
9. Keep a journal. Doing so will help you remember every thought and emotion you have experienced throughout the whole recovery process. Tracking how long it took you to improve after an accident is crucial evidence for any personal injury claim.
10. Contact the skilled California truck accident lawyers at Arash Law. Our lawyers go beyond finding simple and quick settlements. They identify all liable parties to get you the most money back. Furthermore, our team answers the questions and concerns of many victims.

If you’re having trouble securing the accident report from the authorities or an insurer keeps on calling you about the accident, our California truck accident lawyers can assist you in communicating with them.

I HAD AN ACCIDENT

Truck Accidents Statistics

In 2022, collisions involving large trucks resulted in 4,764 fatalities, according to the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS). Of these deaths, 17% were truck occupants, 66% were occupants of passenger vehicles, and 16% were pedestrians, bicyclists, or motorcyclists.

Large truck crashes accounted for 11% of all motor vehicle crash fatalities that year. Among these, 73% occurred in crashes involving tractor-trailers, while 28% involved single-unit trucks. In some cases, both a tractor-trailer and a single-unit truck were part of the same collision.

As for the locations of these fatal incidents, nearly half (49%) occurred on major roads excluding interstates and freeways, 35% took place on interstates and freeways, and 16% happened on minor roads.