Accident near Santa Lucia Canyon Road claims life of young girl, authorities say
LOMPOC, CA, (September 30, 2024) - An 11-year-old girl was killed, and several people were injured in a two-vehicle collision near Vandenberg Village and Lompoc Monday afternoon, according to the California Highway Patrol (CHP).
Jose Gonzalez and Luz Gonzalez were injured in a two-vehicle collision near Vandenberg Village and Lompoc Monday afternoon, officials said, adding the crash left an 11-year-old girl dead.
The crash happened along Highway 1 at the intersection of Santa Lucia Canyon Road.
Based on preliminary findings, a 2020 Toyota Camry carrying three people, including a juvenile, was stopped at a stop sign on Santa Lucia Canyon, attempting to make a left turn onto SR-1. At about 4:55 p.m., just when the Toyota's driver began turning, a southbound 2005 Toyota Prius hit his car on the left side. Tragically, the 11-year-old girl riding in the Toyota died as a result of injuries.
The Toyota's driver, 65-year-old Jose Gonzalez of Lompoc, and another passenger, Luz Gonzalez, were transported to the hospital with unknown injuries.
The investigation is ongoing.
CRASH INVESTIGATION NEEDED
Each year, motor vehicle crashes in this country kill roughly 36,000 people and injure 1.9 million more. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, speeding was the primary cause of fatal crashes in 2018, followed by the influence of alcohol, drugs, or medication; failure to stay in the proper lane; failure to yield the right of way; and distracted driving.
“Road conditions, visibility, and lighting are all possible contributing factors considered and examined,” said Candice Bond, an experienced auto accident attorney and Managing Partner with Bond Legal.
“An accident reconstruction team is sometimes needed to help piece together what happened. All of these resources are necessary for helping clients receive monetary compensation for damages or a loss following a collision,” said Bond.
PERSONAL INJURY CLAIM
Jose Gonzalez and Luz Gonzalez may have the right to pursue a personal injury claim pending an investigation.
Bond, a national legal analyst for Newsline, said, “Injured victims involved in a collision often seek a personal injury claim to cover the cost of medical bills, future medical care, loss of income, emotional trauma, and pain and suffering.
“Insurance companies can be notoriously unconcerned with the mounting costs that an injured party may accrue. An attorney can help. We protect the victims of these tragedies daily, forcing the insurance companies to pay for their mistakes,” she added.
Have you been in a similar accident and need help? Speak to Newsline's national legal analyst Candice Bond now free of charge for a no-obligation consultation
(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).