[12-03-2023] Kings County, CA – Driver Killed, Five Injured After Reckless Multi-Vehicle Collision Along Highway 198 in Hanford

A driver was killed and five were injured after a reckless multi-vehicle collision in Hanford early Sunday morning, December 3, 2023.

According to the California Highway Patrol, the fatal collision happened around 1:50 a.m. along Highway 198 east of 12th Avenue.

A 24-year-old driver from Hanford was traveling on his 2016 Toyota Corolla in the wrong way when he struck another 37-year-old driver named David B., who was on a 2002 Ford F-250.

A 63-year-old named Steven M. was on a Kia Soul when the Ford landed in front of him. The Toyota reportedly got caught in flames.

The 24-year-old Toyota driver died at the scene. The Ford driver sustained major injuries, while two of his passengers sustained minor and moderate injuries. Two Kia occupants also sustained minor injuries.

All of the injured victims were taken to nearby hospitals. The authorities have not identified the cause of the fatal collision as of yet.

Award-winning Reckless Driving Accident Lawyers in Hanford, Kings County

If you or a loved one is suffering from injuries or was wrongfully killed as a result of another driver’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation. Seek justice with the help of an accident attorney in Hanford.

During our free consultation, one of our experienced attorneys will review your case, discuss the next steps, and examine all the variables that could affect the settlement amount.

Seek legal advice from our award-winning Hanford reckless driving accident lawyers at Arash Law, under the supervision of Arash Khorsandi, Esq., who have years of experience advocating for accident victims, resulting in a total of $750 Million in compensation.

To schedule a free consultation with one of our attorneys, please call (888) 488-1391 or submit the “Do I Have a Case?” form.

What Should You Do in Case of a Car Accident?

Since car accidents are unexpected, it can be confusing to know exactly what to do after being involved in one. First, you should check on all passengers, drivers, and pedestrians involved. If they need medical help, call for an ambulance immediately. Make sure that you don’t move anyone who is unconscious or reports back or neck pain unless their life is in imminent danger, for example, from a fire or oncoming traffic. You also need to do the following:

1. Call the police to report any deaths, injuries, or substantial property damage. Get the names and badge numbers of the officers who are at the scene of the accident. Later, you need to call the police department and request the accident report.
2. Take pictures of all parties involved, including their driver’s licenses and insurance cards.
3. Take pictures of all vehicles involved, including their license plates, any visible damages, and points of rest of the automobiles.
4. Take pictures of street names, traffic lights, and signs.
5. Take pictures of all skid marks.
6. Take pictures of witnesses and obtain their phone numbers and addresses.
7. Preserve evidence by taking pictures of your injuries.
8. Seek medical attention, even if you feel like your injuries are minor.
9. Call our injury law firm’s California reckless driving accident lawyer for a free case review.

You should also get the names, drivers’ license numbers, telephone numbers, and addresses of anyone involved. Get their license plates and insurance information. Be sure to get passengers’ names, addresses, and phone numbers. If there are any eyewitnesses, have them jot down their version of what happened and their contact information.

I HAD AN ACCIDENT

Fatal Reckless Driving Accident Statistics

Automobile crashes are the leading cause of unintentional deaths and injuries in the US. Every year, car accidents claim the lives of two million people and injure ten million more.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration defines reckless driving as “willful disregard” for the safety of other road users. The NHTSA also recorded 11,258 fatalities caused by speeding in 2020.

The AAA estimated that between 2003 and 2007, 56% of all traffic accidents were caused by reckless driving. In Hanford, 204 victims were either injured or killed because of crashes, based on California Office of Traffic Safety data.