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.