A 13-year-old boy lost his life in a chain-reaction accident on the Los Angeles 10 Freeway in the Baldwin Park area. The boy was identified as Ryan Milliner, an area resident. The horrific 10-vehicle accident occurred at about 1:40 p.m. on Mother’s Day. The massive collision occurred in the eastbound lane of the 10 Freeway just west of the Francisquito Avenue off-ramp. The California Highway Patrol and the Los Angels County Coroner’s Office are jointly investigating the accident.
The tow truck was operated by a 32-year-old man from Pomona. The tow truck driver evidently did not sustain significant injuries although little information has been shared with the public thus far on his status, medically or legally.
The chain-reaction accident started when the driver of a flatbed tow truck was unable to stop for traffic ahead of him. The specific reasons as to why the driver was unable to safely stop his vehicle have not yet been disclosed by investigators. With that said, the four most common types of reasons why a driver is unable to safely stop a vehicle include:
- Operating at a rate of speed in excess of what existing roadway and travel conditions permit
- Distraction, including using a mobile device in some manner
- Intoxication
- Fatigue
The truck driver rear-ended a Toyota Corolla driven by an area resident. The driver of the Corolla is a 29-year-old woman who suffered major injuries. She was transported to an area hospital and her current condition is not available. She is thought to have survived the crash. With that said, it is anticipated that she will face a significant period of recovery and rehabilitation
In addition to rear-ending the Corolla, the tow truck also collided with a Nissan in which the 13-year-old boy was as passenger. The tow truck rammed into the rear passenger side of the Nissan, where the boy was seated. The force of the collision caused the Nissan to smash into the freeway center dividing wall.
The boy was pronounced dead at the scene. Three other people in the Nissan were injured and transported to the hospital. At least on of these people is said to have suffered major injuries.
Other vehicles were involved in the multi-car pile-up, including another sedan that crashed into the vehicle in which the boy who was killed was a passenger. Three people in yet another vehicle involved in the pile-up sustained injuries requiring hospitalization as well.
Unfortunately, these types of multi-vehicle accidents are surprisingly commonplace across the United States, not only in urban areas like Los Angeles but on interstates running through less densely populated areas. These types of accidents oftentimes involve multiple people sustaining serious and even fatal injuries. In addition, identifying all people at fault for a multi-vehicle accident oftentimes can prove to be a challenging task, not only for official investigators but for injured people who need to assert their legal rights to obtain compensation for their injuries and losses. At first blush in this case, the driver of the tow truck very likely may be deemed negligent in some manner, initially causing the accident. With that noted, this potential reality does not mean other people on the 10 Freeway at the time of this catastrophic accident may also be negligent, having contributed the massive collision.
If you find yourself injured in a motor vehicle accident of some type, or if you’ve lost a family member in an automobile collision, a car accident injury lawyer from The Doan Law Firm is available to explain your legal rights and provide you with a comprehensive case evaluation. You can connect with an experienced, tenacious, compassionate car accident injury lawyer any time of the day or night by calling (800) 349-0000. Our hotline is staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, including all major holidays. There is never a charge for an initial consultation.
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