A 29-year-old man was killed in a Fresno car accident that also resulted in injuries to three others. According to a news report in The Fresno Bee, the fatal car accident occurred on Olive Avenue west of Peach Avenue in Fresno, the morning of December 5, 2011. Officials say a 1960s Chevrolet Nova sped out of a gas station before drifting into oncoming traffic and striking a late-model pickup. The driver of the Nova was killed, while the driver of the truck and two child occupants suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

My heart goes out to the fatally injured victim of this Fresno car crash and his family members. My thoughts and prayers are also with the injured victims here.

Fresno Car Accident Statistics

According to California Highway Patrol’s 2009 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), 23 people were killed and 1,380 were injured in Fresno car accidents. Countywide, 103 fatalities and 3,179 injuries occurred due to car accidents, during that same year.

Divided Highway Accidents

Based on this news report, the Chevrolet Nova drifted into oncoming traffic and struck the other vehicle. I trust investigators are looking into whether this car accident was caused by the driver's negligence or due to other factors such as an auto defect.

California Vehicle Code Section 21651 (a) states: "Whenever a highway has been divided into two or more roadways by means of intermittent barriers or by means of a dividing section of not less than two feet in width, either unpaved or delineated by curbs, double-parallel lines, or other markings on the roadway, it is unlawful…to drive any vehicle over, upon, or across the dividing section."

Liability Issues

Victims of head-on collisions and wrong-way accidents would be well advised to speak with an experienced Fresno personal injury lawyer who will analyze all facets of the incident and ensure that their legal rights and best interests are protected. In cases where the at-fault driver is deceased, injured victims can seek compensation from the driver's estate or liability insurance. If an auto defect caused the accident, then, the victims or their families (if the victim is deceased) can seek compensation from the auto maker or the manufacturer of the defective product.