BAKER, California (Mojave Desert) – Two Las Vegas children were killed Saturday morning and their parents hospitalized after a tire blew out on their 1998 Ford Explorer and the driver lost control of the vehicle while traveling southbound on Interstate 15 about 30 miles north of Baker near the Nevada border, according to news reports and a San Bernardino County Coroner’s report.

Sonya De Anda Martinez, 15, and Jesus De Anda Martinez, 6, were ejected during the single-vehicle rollover crash and died at the scene about ¼ mile south of mile marker 168, according to the report. According to the report, witnesses saw the vehicle traveling southbound on the I-15 at about 70 miles per hour, but it began to swerve and drove off the roadway. The Ford Explorer then rolled multiple times before it stopped about 200-feet away from the freeway. The crash took place about 10:30 a.m. on Saturday morning.

The children’s parents identified in news reports as David D. Chavez, 40, and Luz M. Chavarria, 35, were taken to University Medical Center in Las Vegas for treatment of moderate injuries. Chavez reportedly had a scrape on his head and Chavarria broke her pelvis and ribs.

California Car Accident Statistics

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.

Police investigate every car accident involving a death to determine the cause of a crash, Attorney West Seegmiller explains. The investigation will seek to find out if there were any product defects that may have caused the car accident. Also, whether any other drivers were involved or any circumstances that may have led to the crash that were illegal or reckless.

“Families of victims killed in car accidents not only have to cope with the loss of a loved one, but later their lives may be forever changed due to the loss of income and other costs,” said Seegmiller.

Call us today at 1-855-ASK WEST 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, San Diego, Riverside and in Las Vegas, Nevada.