Monthly Archives: July 2013

Newport Harbor Boat Crash Injures 4

A boating collision in Newport Harbor left four people injured and two vessels damaged, Sunday evening.

At approximately 8:20 p.m., sheriff officials were called to respond to the accident that happened near the Newport Harbor entrance.

Officials arrived to the scene and found that two boats had crashed in the harbor and as a result people were thrown overboard and injured. After further investigation, it was determined that both vessels had been traveling at high speeds in the five mile per hour zone prior to the wreck.

Lt. Lloyd Downing of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department told reporters that officials are investigating further details of the events that lead to the Newport Beach boat crash and whether any of the people piloting the boats were intoxicated.

Aboard the two boats, a 22-foot Whaler and a 27-foot Rayson, were seven people. The boats were heading towards each other and when they tried to escape the crash, it was too late. The boats were wrecked and had to be pulled from the harbor with a crane.

The sheriff’s Harbor Patrol responded to the accident and was able to account for all seven passengers, including the three women and one man that were thrown overboard at the time of Orange County high-speed boat collision.

Lt. Mike Janson of the Harbor Patrol told reporters that one person that was tossed into the water had facial cuts and complained of knee and forearm pain. Emergency personnel tended to those who were injured and all four people were hospitalized. Further information regarding their injuries has not been made public.

Aside from speeding, there are many common factors that may have contributed to the boating crash. Distracted driving, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and breaking waterway laws are contributing factors of waterway collisions, which can cause serious damage to people and their property.

It has been our experience, here at Dara Khajavi Law Offices that in the event of a boat accident occurring at high speeds, the people riding the boat tend to incur more serious injuries on average than those who crash at lower velocities.

No matter how bad your Orange County boating accident is, give us a call before you contact an insurance company and file a claim. Call us at (877) 782-3777 for more information. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for your convenience and offer FREE consultations. We would like to hear about your case and let you know how we can assist you.

Bizarre Collision in Lake Forest

Women was struck by a vehicle and sent to the hospital in a bizarre chain of events following a solo car crash.

The initial solo crash took place last Thursday morning on the 11th. A black SUV was driving down southbound on Cañada drive. The driver was attempting to make a left hand turn onto eastbound Lake Forest. Unfortunately, the driver lost control of the vehicle partially due to the wet street. The driver drove up on the street and collided into a tree.

There was a vehicle headed westbound on Lake Forest drive. The occupants of this vehicle observed the crash and stopped the vehicle. The driver stopped the vehicle in the fast lane rather than pulling over to the shoulder. A female passenger ran out of the vehicle to assist the driver in the single crash. She ran across the median without looking for any vehicles. Unfortunately, a third vehicle was unable to stop in time and struck the female. The third vehicle was driving 50 mph. After the vehicle struck her, she was thrown up in to the air and landed in the sidewalk and gutter. Her leg was partially severed below the knee from this crash.

The woman was bleeding profusely from her injuries. Luckily, there were witnesses at the scene that were able to help and minimize bleeding. She was drifting in and out of consciousness while she waited for emergency professionals. Paramedics reported to the scene.  She was taken to Mission Hospital, and she had to undergo surgery. She is expected to make a full recovery.

The driver of in the single car crash sustained minor injuries. In a bizarre twist, the driver of the second vehicle was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving. The driver of the second vehicle is the husband of the woman who was injured. While the woman waited for paramedics, the driver yelled at the driver who struck his wife.

There is currently an ongoing investigation into the first and secondary collision. Thankfully, more people were not seriously injured. This bizarre sequence of events could have resulted in many more injuries.

If you are ever in a car accident, do not hesitate to contact a Lake Forest car accident lawyer. The Law Offices of Dara Khajavi are ready to handle any case. Contact us today for a free consultation.

Brea 57 Freeway Car Accident Hospitalizes 2

A fiery three-vehicle crash in Brea’s freeway sent two people to the hospital earlier this morning. Traffic was nearly stopped in both directions due to an earlier accident involving a motorcycle on the southbound lanes of the freeway.

California Highway Patrol officer Oswaldo Guzman told reporters that fiery three-vehicle collision occurred on the northbound lanes of the 57 freeway, north of Tonner Canyon Road at about 6:45 a.m.

Emergency personnel were close to the crash site. They were responding to a separate crash involving a motorcycle near Lambert Road on the southbound lanes of the 57 freeway.

When firefighters and CHP arrived on the scene they tended to the injured victims.  A Hyundai Genesis collided with an Infinity coupe in the fast lanes. This caused the Infinity to flip over and slam against another vehicle, a Honda Accord.

The Infinity came to a stop after it slid northbound on the freeway lanes while on its roof and then caught fire.

Fullerton/Brea Fire Battalion Chief Mike Dillon told reporters that the crew of Brea Engine 3 was already on scene for the previous accident and reacted quickly to the accident. They put out the fire and extricated the female driver from the overturned vehicle.

According to reporters, a person from the Infinity and another from the Hyundai were hospitalized but the severity of their injuries was not released.

The female driver of the Accord was uninjured and had pulled over to the shoulder after the accident. She stayed on the scene and helped CHP officers with their ongoing investigation. It is not clear if any of the drivers were under the influence of alcohol or drugs or were simply distracted by the accident on the opposite side of the freeway they were commuting on.

A tow truck helped pull out the overturned vehicle from the freeway.

Traffic was stopped for miles in both direction of the 57 Freeway and Brea Canyon Road entering Orange County and officials issued a SigAlert. The northbound lanes cleared up about three hours after the incident but southbound traffic from Lambert to Imperial Highway moved slowly.

If you happened to be driving down the 57 Freeway and got into a car wreck, no matter how bad, Dara Khajavi Law Offices can help. We know that a car accident can happen without warning. And sometimes those accidents can be costly that’s why we work with our clients on a contingency basis.

Pick up the phone and call us at (877)782-3777 for a free consultation today!

Two Separate OC Toddler Drowning

Two toddler boys in Orange County have drowned in pools, in the past week.

The first drowning took place in Rancho Santa Margarita in a community pool. The victim was a 3-year-old boy, Xavier Ergueta. He was pronounced dead a day later at Mission Hospita. Xavier Ergueta was pulled from the Beach Club and Lagoon pool on Avenida de los Fundadores on the Fourth of July.

Witnesses described pool staffers asking all visitors to get out of the pool because a child was missing. The boy was found, and a woman was seeing performing CPR on the boy. Firefighters reported to the scene at around 7:50 p.m. Thursday. An off-duty nurse and an off-duty paramedic assisted the boy before any paramedics arrived. Ergueta was taken to the hospital in critical condition.

The pool has a maximum depth of 4 feet. It is owned and operated by the Rancho Santa Margarita Landscape and Recreation Corp.  The incident is currently under internal investigation. In a news release, the pool stated that all safety procedures and policies were followed. The OC Health Care Agency has inspected the beach club and found no issues. This was the first drowning at the pool in its 26 year history.

Another drowning took place in a Placentia pool, Monday afternoon. A 2-year-old boy was found unconscious in a Placentia pool located in the 500 block of Dartmouth Drive. The boy has been identified as Omar Abo-Shadi. He died later early Tuesday morning. Firefighters and Police responded to the pool at about 1:45 p.m., Monday.

The boy was not breathing when the firefighters arrived at the scene. He was able to regain heartbeat and a pulse after he was brought to St. Jude Medical Center in Fullerton. Omar Abo-Shadi was placed on a respirator and taken to Children’s Hospital of Orange County. He was pronounced dead early Tuesday morning. Investigators are still trying to determine if the drowning was an accident.

These unfortunate accidents took the lives of two innocent little boys. Pool safety is a serious issue for Orange County residents. We are lucky enough that the weather is usually good enough for pool time year around. It is important that we educate ourselves about pool safety.

Here are some important pool safety tips:

  • Never leave a child unattended near water. There must always be an adult supervising.
  • Become certified in CPR. You may never know when it may come in handy.
  • When you are supervising children, keep a phone by the pool. This way you never have to leave the pool to answer the phone.
  • Put away tools in and around the pool.
  • Make sure your children know how to swim. Teach them about pool safety.
  • Remember, children who are expert swimmers are still at risk of drowning.

If someone you love was ever injured due to another individual’s negligence, contact a Placentia personal injury lawyer.

O.C. Student Killed in Saddleback College Fire

A Saddleback College student who succumbed to burn injuries is suspected to have been the victim of arson, officials announced on Tuesday.

Officials found the 21-year-old in a lecture hall of the third floor at the college located at 28000 Marguerite Parkway in Mission Viejo after responding to a fire on Monday. Fire officials said he was the only person inside the classroom at the Business and General Studies building. Officials are not releasing his name until family is notified of the death.

Emergency officials rushed the student to Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo, where he was flown in critical condition to Western Medical Center Santa Ana to be treated at the hospital’s burn unit. That night he succumbed to the third and second degree burns he suffered at the school and died.

Tuesday, officials released a statement on the college website announcing that classes would resume in the first floor of the Business and General Studies Building but the second and third floors would remain off-limits to students.

Capt. Jon Muir of the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) said officials responded to initial reports on Monday that described the fire as coming from an air conditioning unit at around 6:40 a.m. The fire was under control by around 7:14 a.m. And no classes were in session during the fire.

Investigators with the OCFA reportedly suspect the fire was caused by arson and aided by some sort of substance used to feed the fire.  They estimated that approximately $400,000 in damages was caused by the fire, $200,000 of which was caused to the building’s structure. The building was closed down for the day.

The cause of the fire continues to be under investigation.

Accidents, whether they result in personal injury or wrongful death, also involve the family and loved ones of the victims. There is the accumulation of hospital bills, auto shop bills, and unexpected expenses that come after an accident; and someone has to pay for them. If the person that was injured is no longer able to provide for the family or loved ones, then they are stuck with the financial burden.

Call Dara Khajavi Law Offices at (877)782-3777 anytime; we are available 24/7. If you call now, you will get a free consultation.

We would like to work with you in obtaining compensation that can cover your expenses and get you living back to normal once again. Call (877)782-3777now for more information!

 

Suspected Drunken Driver Hits OCTA Bus in Anaheim

A suspected drunken driver collided into the back of a public bus late Friday night.

The suspected drunken driver injured herself and four others. The driver was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving. She collided into an Orange County Transportation Authority bus at around 11:15 p.m. The collision took place on La Palma Avenue just east of Harbor Boulevard

The driver had one passenger. Both she and the passenger were treated for minor injuries from the accidents. Two passengers on the pass had to be taken to a hospital for treatment. An additional bus passenger was treated for minor injuries at the scene of the accident. Uninjured passengers were transferred to another bus. After the accident, the driver of the car was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving.

Drunken driving is a serious issue. This weekend was a 4 day weekend for many people. At all these Fourth of July parties, there was sure to be a lot of alcohol. Unfortunately, this means that there is an increase of drunken drivers on the road. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association, Fourth of July is the worst day of the year for fatal crashes. The National Highway Traffic Safety Association found that 40 percent of all highway deaths between 2007 and 2011 were caused by drunken driving over the Fourth of July weekend.

A drunk driver endangers everyone on the road. When you are impaired, you have delayed reaction and impaired judgment. This increases your risk of accidents. An empty road can still be dangerous for a drunken driver. A drunken driver could easily lose control and collide into a pole or wall.

Drunken driving can also be quite expensive. If you are lucky enough to avoid an accident, you could be arrested for a DUI. A DUI arrest can increase insurance premium significantly. You may also have to pay fines, court costs, and DMV fees. A DUI can costs anywhere between $5,000 and $25,000. You may even have difficulty finding a job after a DUI arrest.

If you know you will be drinking, you should find a designated driver. A designated driver can be a friend or a family member. You can even just call a cab. Whatever you choose to do, you should make sure you have a safe ride home.

Contact an Anaheim car accident lawyer if you are involved in an accident. Do not hesitate to contact the Law Offices of Dara Khajavi.

 

Two Separate Pedestrian Fatal Accidents in OC

Fatal car accidents took place in Laguna Niguel and San Clemente.

The first accident took place July 4th morning at 9 a.m. A married couple was walking on the sidewalk in Laguna Niguel. A driver drove up on the curb and onto the sidewalk. He collided into the couple. The wife died at the scene of the accident, and the husband suffered critical injuries.

Luzanna Malec, the wife, died at the scene of the accident on Golden Lantern near Beach Hill way. Tom Malec, her husband, was taken to Mission Regional Hospital. His current condition is unknown. The couple has three children and one grandchild.

The driver was a man in his 40s. He stayed at the scene of the accident and cooperated with officers.  He was detained and evaluated for possible DUI. The Orange County Sheriff has not made an arrest yet.

The second fatal car accident took place in San Clemente Thursday night just after 10:30 p.m. A 76 year old grandmother was walking with her grandson in the bike lane on El Camino real, just south of Camino Capistrano. The driver struck them and fled the scene. The vehicle was a white Volkswagen van on the north side of the road.

The grandmother was pronounced dead at the scene. Her grandson suffered only minor injuries. Luckily, there was a witness to the accident. The witness followed the Volkswagen van to Gable Street. The deputies detained the driver and interviewed her. She was identified as a 45 year old resident of Dana Point.

Sheriff Deputies conducted a DUI investigation. No arrests were made. The deputies are investigating the Sheriff’s accident reconstruction team.

Pedestrians are especially vulnerable to car accidents. Drivers often have difficulty seeing pedestrians. A pedestrian also has little protection in the event of a collision. The structure of a vehicle absorbs some of the force of the collision. Pedestrians have nothing to absorb the force of the collision. Surviving pedestrians often sustain serious and often fatal injuries.

It is important to be careful while walking, even if you are on the sidewalk. A driver may unexpectedly lose control and drive up onto the sidewalk. While walking, you should focus on walking. Don’t distract yourself with music or your phone. If you focus on walking, it will be easier for you to avoid any reckless drivers.

If you are ever involved in a car accident, do not hesitate to contact an Orange County car accident lawyer.

 

Firework Shows in OC

Independence Day is tomorrow! It is a great day to relax, grill, and enjoy fireworks! Hopefully, you’ll get to eat tons of great grilled goodies and spend time with your friends and family. If you are looking to enjoy fireworks up close and personal, here are some firework shows in Orange County!

  • Aliso Viejo

Grand Park (Aliso Creek Road and Pacific Park Drive)

  • Anaheim

Disneyland

  • Anaheim Hills

Peralta Canyon Park (Pinney Dr)

  • Dana Point

Dana Point Harbor

Viewing available at Heritage Park and Lantern Bay Park

  • Fullerton

Fullerton High School Stadium

Lemon Street and Berkeley

  • Huntington Beach

Fireworks over the ocean

  • Laguna Hills

Laguna Hills Sports Complex

  • Laguna Niguel

Laguna Niguel Regional Park

  • Mission Viejo

Olympiad Road

Between marguerite Parkway and Melinda Road

  • San Clemente

San Clemente Pier

  • San Juan Capistrano

San Juan Capistrano Sports Park

  • Santa Ana

Centennial Park

  • Tustin

Tustin High School Football Field

  • Yorba Linda

Veterans Park

Casa Loma Avenue (adjacent to City Hall)

Feel free to suggest some shows in the comments! Remember July 4th is one of the busiest days of the year for hospitals and police. Do not drink and drive, and don’t let friends drink and drive! If you do drink, please enjoy the holiday carefully. Alcohol can impair judgment and slow reaction time.

Fireworks are also incredibly dangerous. Don’t let children play with or light fireworks. Fireworks can seriously injure a child or an adult. Only light fireworks if you are experienced in fireworks.  Be especially careful of disposing fireworks. If the firework is not completely out, it could start a fire or burn someone.

Enjoy the holiday!

2 Rancho Santa Margarita Residents Die in Crash

A Saddleback Valley Christian High School student and his father died last Friday night in a single-car accident.

The pair was driving near the California-Arizona border. There was also a younger son, 13 years old, in the vehicle. The father, Jim Siciliani, was driving eastbound on Interstate 40. He swerved in the opposite direction, which caused the vehicle to overturn.  The collision took place in a construction zone about a half-mile east of mile marker 85. The crash was about 57 miles from the California border town of Needles.

Fire officials responded to the scene at 9:43 pm. Jim Siciliani was round responsive, but he later died from his injuries at around 10:20 p.m.  He survived long enough to tell the California Highway Patrol about the accident. Siciliani told the officers he had veered off the road and overcorrecting, causing the car to overturn. Jim’s older son, Nicholas Siciliani, also died at the scene of the accident. His younger son, 13-year-old Greg, was flown to a Las Vegas area hospital for serious injuries.

Jim Siciliani was a Rancho Santa Margarita resident. He was a popular and well-liked man. Siciliani was also a realtor with Keller Williams Realty in Mission Viejo.  Nicholas is also fondly remembered by his football teammates and classmates. Jim Siciliani is survived by his wife and two younger children. Mrs. Siciliani is currently in Las Vegas with her injured younger son.

Nicholas Siciliani was going to enter his junior year at Saddleback Valley Christian School in the fall. He was a football lineman. His coach describes him as a true team player and popular among his teammates. Nicholas Siciliani had to miss out on much of his sophomore season because of an injury.  He was working hard to recover to play in the fall.

There was a prayer service held on Monday at the Sadleback Valley Christian High School. 100 students and adults shared stories about the two the victims. Over 400 people attended the service. Both victims were fondly remembered and honored.

If you are ever injured in a car accident, contact a Rancho Santa Margarita car accident lawyer.

Former City Manager Killed in Crash in Laguna Beach

A former Westminster police chief and city manager, James Mitchell Waller, died in a bicycle accident on Friday.

The collision took place Friday morning. He was riding his bicycle along southbound Highway 133. A Toyota Corolla struck him and another bicyclist at around 8:50 a.m. Waller died at the scene of the accident. The other bicyclist was his friend, Kevin Beach. Beach is also a longtime city employee. Kevin Beach was taken to Mission Hospital. He is currently in serious but stable condition. Both victims are avid bicyclists. This particular stretch of road was one of their favorite routes.

The driver of the Toyota Corolla stayed at the scene of the accident. Currently, no arrests have been made. The exact cause of the accident is still not been determined. California Highway Patrol officers and Sheriff Deputies are investigating the incident.

Witnesses described a horrific scene. The windshield of the Corolla was completely shattered. The bikes were also destroyed and in pieces. One of the cyclists was seen lying facing the ground. He was not moving.

Waller leaves behind a wife and two children. While he was at the Westminster Police Department, he served as a captain, chief’s adjutant, SWAT commander, patrol operations lieutenant, and detective commander. He became chief in 2009. Waller took the Westminster city manager position in early 2011. He retired in July 2012. During his time as city manager, he reduced the city’s budget deficit. His supporters remember him fondly. Waller has done much for the city of Westminster.

A trauma team was sent to the Police Department to help the officers cope with the loss. Both victims were close to the Police Department. Waller influenced many. He will be remembered as a role model and strong leader.

These deaths are an unfortunate story to common among avid bicyclists. Bicyclists are highly susceptible to fatal accidents. In the case of a collision, bicyclists have little protection. If a car collides into a bicyclist, the bicyclist will probably be ejected forward. The bicyclist’s only protection is a helmet. Bicyclists can also easily sustain fatal injuries. If these two men were in a motor vehicle, the collision may have been less serious. A car’s external structure would absorb some of the force of the Toyota Corolla. Unfortunately, bicyclists are susceptible to fatal accidents.

 

If you are ever in a fatal accident, do not hesitate to contact a Westminster car accident lawyer.