The collision was near Saratoga Los Gatos Road and Via Colina
CUPERTINO, CA, (November 21, 2024) - Early Thanksgiving morning, 15-year-old Isaiah Mata died in a car crash after a police pursuit ended in a collision with a tree. The incident occurred just after 3 a.m. near Saratoga Los Gatos Road and Via Colina.
Isaiah Mata lost his life on Nov. 21 when the vehicle he was a passenger in crashed into a tree while evading police in Cupertino.
According to the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office, Mata was a passenger in a white Hyundai Elantra with three other teens when deputies attempted to pull the vehicle over near De Anza and Stevens Creek Boulevards. The driver fled, leading to a pursuit that ended when it crashed into a tree. An unloaded firearm magazine was found nearby.
The driver, a 17-year-old male resident of Cupertino, was taken into custody and faces multiple charges, including vehicular manslaughter and possession of a stolen vehicle. The other three teens in the car, two of them girls, were not seriously injured.
The investigation by the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office is ongoing.
CRASH INVESTIGATION
“It is imperative to come to a determination of the exact cause of these types of accidents. An attorney has the resources to review applicable insurance coverage, hire expert witnesses, run background checks, and locate witnesses. We carefully guide the victim's family through the process,” said Candice Bond, a managing partner with Bond Legal.
She noted that, in cases such as this, an independent investigation is crucial to preserve evidence.
“In addition to a police report, an attorney will carefully review what may have contributed to the crash,” said Bond. “A lawyer has the resources to hire expert witnesses, conduct drivers’ background checks, locate witnesses to the crash, and review applicable insurance coverage. Serving as an advocate, an attorney can help guide an injury victim through what can be a complicated process.”
WRONGFUL DEATH CLAIM
Pending the investigation, the family of Isaiah Mata could pursue a wrongful death claim. Relatives of wrongful death victims are entitled to seek damages for the loss of companionship, pain and suffering, and emotional distress following a tragic or catastrophic accident.
“The stress and sorrow can be extremely overwhelming after losing a loved one in an accident,” said Bond.
“We understand the hardships that families face, and it's crucial to protect their rights. A wrongful death lawyer will keep abreast of the official investigation and ensure that their legal rights and best interests are safeguarded."
If you or a family member have been involved in a situation similar to this article and would like to speak to our national legal analyst Candice Bond free of charge, please use the contact information found on this page.
(Candice Bond, our national legal analyst, is a Managing Partner at Bond Legal. Newsline can and does use quotes from prior interviews with our analysts for our news articles. If you would like to contact Bond Legal to help you, please call 866-985-6515 or use the submission box found on this page. Legal analysts quoted may or may not be licensed in your state).