ANAHEIM, California – Despite several frantic calls to 911 altering police to a wrong-way driver in a blue Honda Civic on the State Route 91 freeway, Kyung Namgoong was killed and three others seriously injured as the suspected drunk driver collided with two vehicles early Sunday morning, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department and news reports.
Police desperately tried to track down the car prior to the 1:47 a.m. crash, but were unable to find the vehicle in time. They caught up with the wrong-way driver after the crash and immediately arrested him on charges of driving under the influence. Ruben Gurrola, 23, of Pomona crashed into a white Toyota Camry in which Namgoong was a passenger and injured the 58-year-old man driving.
Police arrested Gurrola after conducting various tests on him following the accident, police said. Witnesses reported that Gurrola was driving on the wrong side of the 241 freeway prior to switching to the 91 freeway where the car accident took place just west of Coal Canyon.
Kyung Namgoong, 53, of Buena Park died a short time after the car crash about 3 a.m. at Western Medical Center in Santa Ana. Three others Gurrola and his 24-year-old female passenger were transported to UCI Medical Center in Orange and Western Medical Center-Santa Ana with traumatic, non-life threatening injuries, police said in published reports.
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.
“Sadly we get in our cars every day and never suspect we will be involved in a serious car crash,” said Attorney West Seegmiller, founder of the Seegmiller Law Firm. “Then one day it happens and most people want to know why. Typically car accidents are the cause of some sort of accidental human error, but too many times car accidents are the result of a driver’s recklessness.”
Police investigate every car accident involving a death to determine the cause of a crash, Seegmiller explains. The investigation will seek to find out if either driver was under the influence of alcohol as it was in this case, whether they were distracted or if there were 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.
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Seegmiller is a California 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.