Pacoima Crash Kills One, Critically Injures Second
A car crash in Pacoima took the life of one woman and left another critically injured on July 2. The women were driving a Mercedes-Benz convertible when it flew off the 5 Freeway and flipped over before landing on the street below. The passenger in the vehicle was pronounced dead at the scene and the driver was taken to an area hospital where she was listed in critical condition.
The accident occurred in the northbound lanes of the 5 Freeway around 5:25 p.m. on Saturday, July 2. The car came off the highway around the interchange with the 118 Freeway, landing on Laurel Canyon Boulevard below. An investigation is currently underway to determine the cause of the one-car crash.
The woman that died in the crash has been identified as Jessica Vides, 25, from Sylmar. Vides was wearing her seatbelt at the time of the accident.
Car accidents in Los Angeles County
Los Angeles County has led the state in car accident fatalities in recent years, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). In 2014, the county saw 633 deaths, which made up 21 percent of all the fatalities in the state that year. The total number of fatalities in the state for 2014 was 3,074. More than 1,800 of those involved single-car crashes and more than 1,300 involved a roadway departure.
Pacoima is less than 25 miles from another Los Angeles County city, El Segundo. El Segundo has seen its share of the fatalities in Los Angeles County, reporting 92 in 2013 alone, according to the California Office of Traffic Safety. The majority of those fatalities were speed-related, while drunk driving was involved in four of those crashes. There is no word at this time as to whether the recent Pacoima accident involved excessive speed or alcohol use.
Devastating consequences of car accidents
Traffic accidents are a frequent and devastating event throughout California. In the worst situations, lives are lost and families are left to grieve the loss of a loved one. Even survivors of these crashes often face catastrophic, life-changing injuries that can impact their ability to work and care for their families.
When you are a victim of a crash that was not your fault, you want someone to be held responsible for the damages and injuries. In most cases, those responsible can be held legally liable, giving you the financial support needed to receive medical care and take time off work while healing from your injuries. Proving liability in a crash can be complex, however, requiring the expertise of a qualified personal injury lawyer.
The Los Angeles car accident lawyers at Ellis Injury Law Firm offer skilled legal advice and representation to victims of car accidents in Los Angeles and throughout southern California. We have represented hundreds of accident victims, helping them get the compensation needed for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other non-economic losses.
To arrange a free evaluation of your case with a expert personal injury attorney, contact Ellis Law today at 310-641-3335.