Cayetano Aguilar Martinez, 45, was killed in a San Bernardino car accident after the vehicle in which she was a passenger went out of control and crashed. According to a news report in The Press Enterprise, the fatal car accident occurred early morning on August 14, 2011 on Highway 60 in Chino, near Central Avenue.

California Highway Patrol officials say Martinez was a passenger in a 1996 Toyota Corolla that spun out of control, hit an embankment and overturned. The right side of the vehicle struck a tree. Martinez's head hit against the tree. It is unclear if she was ejected or partially ejected from the vehicle. Another passenger, 43-year-old Juana Martinez, was ejected and suffered major injuries. The driver, 22-year-old Jose Martinez, suffered non-life-threatening injuries. The injured victims were transported to a local hospital for treatment. Officials are investigating the cause of this fatal car accident.

I offer my heartfelt sympathies to everyone who knew and loved Cayetano Aguilar Martinez for their tragic and heartbreaking loss. My thoughts and prayers are also with the two injured victims of this crash. I wish them the very best for a speedy and complete recovery.

Car Accident Statistics

According to CHP's 2009 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were five fatalities and 379 injuries involving Chino car accidents. In San Bernardino County as a whole, 223 people died and 7,870 were injured as a result of car accidents, during the same year.

What Caused This Crash?

Based on this news report, it appears that the vehicle went out of control and crashed. However, it is not clear as to what caused the driver to lose control. There are still several unanswered questions here. Was the driver of the Toyota impaired, distracted, fatigued, speeding or otherwise negligent? Was there a dangerous condition on the roadway? Was there an auto defect or mechanical malfunction in the vehicle? Was another vehicle involved? Were the occupants who were ejected from the vehicle thrown out because of a defective seatbelt? I trust officials are looking into these and other issues in order to determine what occurred here and why.

Liability Issues

If this accident was the driver's fault, then the family of the deceased victim and the injured victim, could seek compensation from the at-fault driver. If an auto defect caused this crash, then, the auto maker or the manufacturer of the defective product can be held liable. It would also be a good idea to preserve the vehicle so it can be thoroughly examined by an expert for evidence of defects, malfunctions and other evidence. An experienced San Bernardino personal injury lawyer will advise victims or their families in such cases about their legal rights and options.