Fresno Hit-and-Run Car Accident Injures Five
California Highway Patrol officials are seeking the public's help to locate a driver who they say caused a Fresno car accident in which five people were injured, four seriously. According to a news report in The Fresno Bee, the hit-and-run collision occurred near Coalinga, the afternoon of April 2, 2010. Officials say 41-year-old Brian Retz was traveling north on Interstate 5 in a Chevy Suburban, when a maroon colored sedan changed lanes and suddenly pulled ahead of him. Retz lost control of the SUV and it rolled over. Four passengers -- Matthew Smithson, 17, Sarah Novak, 16, Jenny Novak, 14, and Hunter Retz, 7 -- were ejected from the Suburban and sustained major injuries.
Brian Retz escaped with minor injuries. The driver of the sedan, who apparently caused this major injury accident, fled the scene of the crash. If you have any information about the incident please contact the CHP at 559-935-2093.
My heart goes out to the occupants of the Chevy Suburban, many of whom sustained severe injuries in this SUV rollover accident. I wish them all the very best for a quick and complete recovery. They will certainly be in my prayers.
Accident Statistics
According to CHP's 2008 traffic accident statistics, there were four fatalities and 15 injuries involving car accidents in Coalinga. In Fresno County as a whole, car accidents claimed 127 lives and injured 3,233 people during the same year.
Hit-and-Run Law
I sincerely hope that the hit-and-run driver in this case is soon apprehended and brought to justice. Leaving the scene of an accident is a serious crime under California law. California Vehicle Code 20001 (a) states: "The driver of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to a person, other than himself or herself, or in the death of a person shall immediately stop the vehicle at the scene of the accident." This incident was a "non-contact hit-and-run," which means that the suspect vehicle did cause the accident, but there was no collision. Still, the driver of sedan should have stopped, exchanged information with the other party and rendered aid to the injured victims.
Auto Product Liability Issues
If I were a member of the victims' family, I would also look into whether vehicle defects in the Chevy Suburban SUV contributed to their major injuries. The Suburban is known to be an unstable vehicle, which has the propensity to tip over and roll even at normal speeds. In this case, the passengers were all ejected. Were they buckled up at the time or were they ejected as a result of seatbelt failure. A reputed Fresno personal injury lawyer, who has successfully handled auto product liability cases, will be able to analyze this incident and determine whether the injuries were the result of auto product defects. In such cases, the vehicle must be preserved so it can be carefully examined by an expert for any evidence of design or product defects.
What can we do to reduce the number of hit-and-run collisions in California?
None of the parties mentioned in this article are represented by us at the time this article was posted. The source of our information is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call a reputable law firm for a consultation. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. The BISNAR | CHASE personal injury law firm will provide free, confidential consultation to "not at fault" persons and their family members if you mention your source was the “Personal Injury Attorney News" They can be reached at 866-456-5235 during California business hours.
