TEMECULA, California – Two people were injured early Monday morning after the driver of a dark green 2002 Chevrolet Suburban allegedly fell asleep and crashed into several cars on the northbound Interstate 15 freeway at the United States Border Patrol checkpoint just south of Temecula, according to a press release issued by the CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department and California Highway Patrol reports.
According to the reports, one victim suffered major injuries in the 8:32 a.m. crash and the other was listed with moderate injuries. Emergency workers rescued one of the victims who was trapped inside a vehicle and both were transported to a nearby hospital for treatment of their injuries.
Police say driver David Arriaga, 20, of Riverside reportedly fell asleep behind the wheel of the Chevrolet Suburban and subsequently lost control of it as he veered into a Chevrolet Avalanche pickup truck. The truck was pushed onto its side and ran into a Mercedes-Benz sedan that was also waiting at the checkpoint.
Three fire engines responded to the scene with some 10 emergency workers on the scene of the multiple-vehicle crash.
“Drivers who fall asleep behind the wheel are considered negligent under California vehicle code and can be held liable for injuries and damages caused by a crash they cause,” Attorney West Seegmiller explains. “Indeed the crash is not intentional, but the driver is required to exercise the utmost care while in control of a motor vehicle and that includes refraining from driving when you are in no condition to drive.”
Riverside County Car Accident Statistics
One person was killed and 368 injured in Temecula car accidents in 2010, according to the California Highway Patrol’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Report. There were 190 deaths and 7,632 injuries reported due to traffic accidents in Riverside County the 2010 report said.
In California, fatal traffic accidents were down 12% to 2,715 deaths in 2010 compared to 3,090 killed in 2009, according to statistics compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Additionally, national statistics show that traffic fatalities have declined in recent years across the United States, down roughly 3% to 32,885 deaths in 2010 compared to 33,883 killed in 2009.
Have you been injured in a Temecula car accident? Call us today at 1-855-ASK WEST (1-855-275-9378) 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 Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, San Diego, Riverside and in Las Vegas, Nevada.
