Head-on Crash Sends Car Over PCH, Into Ocean
Five people were injured in a horrifying head-on accident that launched one car off the Pacific Coast Highway and into the ocean. Thankfully no one was killed but one person was left in critical condition. The crash shut down both directions of State Route 1 from Las Posas Road for about two hours during rush hour.
The two-car accident took place between a Toyota Corolla and a Mini Cooper in Point Mugu at about 5:40 p.m. on Thursday, July 12. According to the CHP, the Corolla was driven by a 24-year-old Oxnard man and carrying two other men in their 20s. The Corolla was headed northbound on the PCH when it lost control and careened into a roadside barrier. It then crossed into the southbound lanes and struck a Mini Cooper head-on. The Mini Cooper’s driver, a 40-year-old woman from Malibu, was treated at a local hospital for minor injuries.
Arrest made following PCH crash
After the Corolla struck the barrier, it flew over the edge of the PCH, down a cliff, and 50 feet into the water. The two passengers were ejected, the driver escaped the vehicle, and all three swam to safety. According to the Ventura County Fire Department, one of the passengers was airlifted to a trauma center and the other transported to a hospital by ground. Reports also stated that three pedestrians were struck and one was treated at the hospital with minor injuries.
The Oxnard man who had been driving the Corolla was later arrested by California Highway Patrol at the Ventura County Medical Center, where he was being treated. He was booked on suspicion of a felony – driving under the influence – and a misdemeanor – driving without a license. Authorities have not released his name.
Liability in highway crashes
In California, drivers are under a duty – a legal obligation – to keep control of their vehicles and comply with all traffic regulations. A driver who breaches this duty may be liable for injuries that his or her breach causes to others.
Thankfully, no one was killed in the July 12 crash. In a fatal crash, a negligent driver may be liable for wrongful death damages and expenses. In non-fatal accidents, an at-fault driver may be ordered to compensate the injured parties for both economic and non-economic losses, including related past and future medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and loss of consortium of a spouse. There are time limitations though; in most cases, an injured party in California only has two years to bring a lawsuit for their losses. Therefore, it is important to seek guidance from a skilled personal injury attorney as soon as you can after an accident.
Effective legal representation in Southern California
When someone is injured in a serious accident, there is truly no way to undo the damage. There is, however, a right to have the related financial burdens met by the liable party. The Los Angeles car accident lawyers at Ellis Law are dedicated to seeing justice done for those injured through another’s lapse in judgment. Speak with a trusted personal injury lawyer today; schedule a free consultation by calling 310-641-3335.
More resources about PCH crash:
- CBA Los Angeles, Car Goes Over The Side Into Ocean In PCH Crash, https://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2018/07/12/car-ocean-pacific-coast-highway-pch/
- KTLA, Vehicle Plunges Into Water After Crash on PCH Near Point Mugu; 5 People Hurt, https://ktla.com/2018/07/12/vehicle-plunges-into-water-after-crash-on-pch-near-point-mugu/
- VC Star, Arrest made after wreck that injures 4, sends car into ocean off Pacific Coast Highway, https://www.vcstar.com/story/news/2018/07/12/least-five-injured-rollover-crash-near-mugu-rock/781480002/