SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, California – The 18-year-old driver of a pickup truck was placed under arrest after his female passenger was crushed to death in the passenger seat of the vehicle after it struck an oak tree about a mile west of Caspers Park on the Ortega Highway, police traffic officials said.

The driver was allegedly weaving back and forth across the winding highway prior to the fatal crash that killed a 40-year-old woman at the scene, police reported.

Police placed Lake Elsinore resident Francisco Jesus Ochoa under arrest and charged him with two felonies, a misdemeanor and an infraction. The first was vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence while intoxicated and the second was possession of a controlled substance because police found six Vicodin pills in his possession at the time of the accident that he did not have a prescription for. Also, Ochoa is charged with a misdemeanor for driving without a valid license and a fine for not having liability insurance on his truck.

Ochoa fractured his leg in the crash and was transported by emergency responders to Mission Hospital.

“Tragically cars that crash into trees, light poles, cement medians or walls result in some of the most serious injuries and fatalities,” said Attorney West Seegmiller, founder of The Seegmiller Law Firm.

Indeed, single-vehicle car accidents in which a car hits a stationary object can be especially deadly. The moving vehicle absorbs the full impact of the crash, but the object hit stays in place increasing the chance of a serious injury.

These fatal car accidents are certainly devastating to families who have lost a loved one under such circumstances. In fact, a person is killed in a car accident every two hours and 51 minutes here in California. Overall, there were 2,805 fatal traffic accidents out of 426,228 total collisions reported in California in 2009, according to statistics compiled by the California Department of Motor Vehicles. It was the lowest recorded fatalities in United States history since 1954 when there were 2,706 fatal accidents reported and the lowest number of injuries reported since 1974 when there were 160,370 injury accidents reported.

For roughly 30 years, the legal experts at Seegmiller Law Firm have represented hundreds of clients injured in serious traffic accidents. Our legal team has also handled hundreds of wrongful death claims for families of victims killed in traffic accidents. Indeed, the car accident law firm has a proven track record supported by settlements ranging from several thousand dollars to millions.

Seegmiller is a personal injury law firm with a track record of proven results. There is no cost to clients until our experienced team of lawyers and legal professionals have won your case. Finding the best car accident attorney can mean you will get the settlement you need to get your life back on track. Compensation for your injuries, loss of wages and pain and suffering can’t take away the trauma of the accident, but it can help you rebuild your life.

Call us today at 1-877-426-0695 to speak with our car accident law firm. Seegmiller Law Firm has offices in California including its headquarters in Irvine. We also have offices outside of Orange County to serve you in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside and in Las Vegas, Nevada.