Jorge Garcia was driving a semi-truck when he pulled onto the emergency shoulder of the Pomona Freeway, near the 71 Freeway intersection, around 8:45 a.m.  Garcia got out of his vehicle which is when he was struck by a passing box truck carrying snack foods.  Jorge Garcia of Downey was pronounced dead at the scene, he was 61 years old.  A passenger in the box truck which struck Garcia was also pronounced dead at the scene.  He has been identified as 25 year old Jose Antonio Garcia of La Puente.  It is not known how many other people were involved in this collision, one person was taken to a local hospital with serious injuries.

An investigation into the cause of the accident is ongoing.  While it is best to always pull off the freeway in times of emergency, all drivers should be vigilant of other vehicles especially stranded drivers.

Bossiere was headed north on Vineyard Avenue around 8:20 p.m. on Monday when the collision occurred.  A Toyota Sienna turned in front of the motorcycle at Hemlock Street resulting in the fatal crash.  Bossiere was rushed to San Antonio Community Hospital but died later.  The Alta Loma resident was 21 years old.

According to early investigations of the accident, the Toyota Sienna did not yield to Bossiere who had the right of way.

The collision occurred around 3:05 p.m. on the 17600 block of Valley Boulevard in the City of Industry.  Jose Munoz was riding in the 17600 block of Valley Boulevard between Hambledon Avenue and Hurley Street.  As he was pedaling, he was struck by a big rig truck.

Although he may have been riding against traffic, drivers still have a duty to watch for cyclists.  Drivers in California know that many cyclists ride against traffic and should be watchful of these riders.  Riders of bikes against traffic may not be complying with the letter of the law, but that does not give drivers a license to disregard them.  Truckers and other professional drivers in particular, have a higher standard of care when driving due to the size and weight of their vehicles.

Jose Munoz, a La Puente resident, was declared dead at the scene of the accident.  He was 55 years old.

Nihipali was traveling on the eastbound Riverside Freeway (91 Freeway), west of Main Street, at around 5:23 p.m. when he collided with a car.  He lost control of his motorbike and was hit by a passing semi-truck.

The Corona resident was pronounced dead at the scene.  He was 40 years old.

Strzelczyk, who was traveling east on East Palm Canyon Drive, was struck by a white 1991 Ford Ranger pickup around 4:30 a.m.  The pickup made a left turn at Camino Real, in front of Strzelczyk.  The driver of the pickup abandoned the car and fled the scene of the accident.

Strzelczyk, who was wearing a helmet, was pronounced dead at the scene.  The Bermuda Dunes resident was 29 years old.  He was a former Air Force Sergeant.  Our condolences go out to the friends and family of Eric Strzelczyk.

Eric Strzelczyk

According to California law, a driver is obligated to stop if he or she is involved in a car accident where someone has been injured.  Not stopping or fleeing the scene of an accident, especially where someone was killed, is a punishable crime that will result in state prison.  A driver who has caused a fatal accident should turn himself or herself in to authorities as soon as possible.

Attorney Edmond El Dabe states “In my experience, the hit and run driver frequently ‘runs’ because they want to avoid further criminal charges.  They might be drunk, high or something else.  They leave the scene to avoid being tested.”  Police should make efforts to find the owner and/or driver of the car as soon as possible.  Even a late blood test may reveal the presence of alcohol or drugs in the hit and run driver’s system, from which an expert can reverse extrapolate the amount at the time of the collision.

Anyone who knows of the identity of the driver of the white Ford pickup that killed Eric Strzelczyk with possible front end damage should contact Palm Springs Police Department at (760) 323-8116.

UPDATE:  Police are looking for the hit and run driver.  Witness  Bryon Wetzel drove by after the collision occurred and came upon the scene, to see the suspects car sitting in the intersection, the vehicle still running.  There was pool cleaning equipment in the car.  Police are still investigating.

Mendoza was riding in the passenger seat of a coupe when it was rear ended by another car.  The force of the rear end caused the driver of the coupe to lose control.  Mendoza, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was ejected from the car and died upon impact.  The accident happened on the eastbound side of Interstate 10, south of Wall Road at around 10:30 p.m.

She was 77 years old, a resident of nearby Indio.  It is unclear if excessive speed was a factor or if this crash was drug or alcohol related.  An investigation is ongoing.

Lytle Creek Road at Glen Helen Parkway in Fontana

Johnson’s car collided with another car head-on at around 2:41 p.m.  The collision happened on Lytle Creek Road, north of Glen Helen Parkway.  It is unclear why the two cars collided as an investigation is underway.

Johnson was rushed to Kaiser Permanente Hospital in Fontana where she later died from her injuries.  She was 72 years old.  The condition of the driver of the other vehicle has not been arrested.

On February 21st of this year, Alexander Gavin had pulled over and exited his car on the eastbound side of Interstate 10, one mile west of Interstate 62.  A passing pickup truck was unable to avoid him and struck Gavin’s car which in turn struck Gavin.  Gavin was rushed to Desert Regional Medical Center with life threatening injuries.  Nearly three months after the accident, Gavin lost his fight for life and died today.  The Joshua Tree resident was 23 years old.

Drivers of cars pulled to the side of the road should always note that passing cars pose a serious hazard.  Whenever possible, try to exit the freeway or highway.

El Dabe Law Firm has litigated several claims involving highway drivers who failed to slow or stop for cars that have pulled over on the freeway.  The results of these high speed accidents are typically serious injury or wrongful death.

The incident occurred at around 10:20 a.m. at 9221 Bolsa Avenue at the Dong Supermarket in Westminster.  Vu was struck by a blue Honda Accord.  The male driver of the Honda jumped the curb and drove his car into a business, striking Vu and another female pedestrian.

9221 Bolsa Avenue, Westminster

Parking lot accidents happen when a driver is either driving to fast in a parking lot or the driver mistakenly hits the gas instead of the brakes.  Investigators should also preserve evidence regarding the construction and design of the parking lot as the property owner may be contributorily negligent.  For example, were the curbs built to code (i.e. to prevent cars from entering pedestrian walkways)?  Also, are there concrete posts in front of the parking spots to prevent cars from driving into the businesses?

Hang Wu was rushed to UCI Medical Center in Orange County but was pronounced dead from his injuries soon after arriving there.  Wu, a Westminster resident, was 60 years old.  Our condolences go out to her family and friends for her unnecessary death.  Witnesses should contact the Westminster Police Department which is the investigating agency at (714) 898-3315.

Police are reporting that the three year old was walking in the 33000 block of Shamrock Lane when she was fatally struck by an SUV around 10:19 a.m.  She was taken to Loma Linda Hospital where she died of her injuries.

SUV Drivers must be vigilant in their lookout for pedestrians, especially children, when driving in neighborhoods.  Children are smaller and therefore less visible than adults.

33000 block of Shamrock Lane, Murrieta

This neighborhood is a close knit residential area of Murrieta.  Friends, family, and neighbors of Audrina are mourning her untimely and unnecessary death.  Our condolences go out to the Cruz family in their tragic loss.  An investigation is ongoing as to the circumstances surrounding the accident and witnesses are being asked to contact the Murrieta Police Department at (951) 304-2677.