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California driver heads the wrong way and kills motorcyclist

On Behalf of | Jul 14, 2014 | Wrongful Death |

It is human to err, and perhaps one of the places where that phrase holds significant truth is on the road. Many fatal motorcycle accidents in California are the result of someone making a simple mistake, such as taking a turn too quickly or a driver failing to see the cyclist. In some circumstances, heading the wrong way on a highway can have devastating consequences, as one recent incident reminds us.

An 86-year-old man from Sacramento accidentally entered the southbound lanes of Highway 160 while traveling northbound. In an effort to correct his mistake, he moved his truck toward the center divider in the hopes of being able to turn off the highway as soon as possible. However, a 56-year-old man from Sacramento was riding his motorcycle in the fast lane heading southbound. On a blind curve, the motorcycle and the truck collided.

As a result of the incident, the cyclist, who was wearing a full-face helmet, was thrown from the bike and died on the scene. Another vehicle, which had been traveling behind the motorcycle, sustained minor damage as a result of flying debris from the incident. The southbound lanes of the highway were closed for four hours, and law enforcement are continuing to investigate what happened.

While many drivers who cause an accident do make an honest mistake, it is important that those who lose a loved one are able to recover the compensation necessary for items such as funeral costs. Survivors should contact an attorney to pursue a wrongful death lawsuit.

Source: The Sacramento Bee, “UPDATE: Motorcyclist killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 160,” Bill Lindelof and Cathy Locke, June 20, 2014

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