Driver veered into oncoming lane before vehicle struck Ford Excursion on Viewcrest Drive
November 18, 2025 | San Diego, CA
An 89-year-old San Diego resident, Lucy Prewitt Starkes, lost her life following a two-vehicle collision on Nov. 18 at the intersection of Imperial Avenue and Viewcrest Drive.
Lucy Prewitt Starkes, 89, of San Diego died after her Volkswagen Jetta collided with a Ford Excursion at Imperial Avenue and Viewcrest Drive.
What Happened in the Crash?
Authorities reported that Starkes was driving a Volkswagen Jetta around 10:30 a.m. when it collided with a Ford Excursion. She sustained severe injuries, including brain bleeds, a cervical spinal fracture, and a broken orbital bone.
- Date of Incident: Nov. 18, 2025
- Time: Approximately 10:30 a.m.
- Location: Imperial Avenue and Viewcrest Drive, San Diego, CA
- Vehicles Involved: Volkswagen Jetta, driven by Starkes, and Ford Excursion
- Initial Response: Starkes was transported to Scripps Mercy Hospital
- Outcome: Pronounced deceased on Nov. 24, 2025, at Hillcrest Medical Center's trauma center
San Diego police are investigating the circumstances leading to the crash.
Why Do These Accidents Happen?
Motor vehicle collisions remain a leading cause of death in the United States. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), approximately 36,000 people die annually in such incidents.
Common contributing factors include:
- Speeding
- Driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or medication
- Failure to stay in the proper lane
- Failure to yield the right of way
- Distracted driving
Factor |
Percentage of Fatal Crashes (NHTSA Data) |
Description |
|---|
Speeding |
29% |
Exceeding posted speed limits or driving too fast for conditions |
Impaired Driving |
31% |
Alcohol or drug influence impairing judgment and reaction time |
Distracted Driving |
8% |
Use of phones or other distractions diverting attention from the road |
Failure to Yield |
20% |
Not giving right of way at intersections or merges |
Lane Departure |
12% |
Vehicles crossing into other lanes unintentionally |
Data sourced from NHTSA's 2023 Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS). For more details, visit NHTSA.gov.
Legal Insights
In cases such as this, conducting a thorough investigation is crucial to preserve evidence and safeguard the rights of those affected.
“As attorneys, our job is to provide both legal information and advice to the families of those who have been killed in an accident,” said Candice Bond, managing partner at Bond Legal and a national analyst for Newsline. “We can help protect your rights and prevent your statements to the police and insurance companies from being used against you.”
Bond emphasized the importance of reviewing crash contributions:
- Hire experienced witnesses to analyze accident dynamics
- Conduct driver background checks
- Locate and interview witnesses
- Review applicable insurance coverage
“An attorney will carefully review what may have contributed to the crash and has the resources to serve as an advocate, compassionately guiding families during this difficult time while protecting their legal rights and interests,” added Bond.
Stefano Formica, of counsel with Bond Legal, discussed potential claims:
“An incident is considered a wrongful death when either a person or entity commits a wrongful or negligent act resulting in a person's death,” said Formica. “When vehicle accident fatalities result from unsafe driving, aggressive or distracted driving, speeding, or driving under the influence, family members are usually left with the option to pursue a civil action against the responsible motorist.”
Pending investigation results, the family of Lucy Prewitt Starkes may pursue a wrongful death claim covering medical and funeral expenses, loss of companionship, pain and suffering, and emotional trauma.
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If you or a family member has been affected by a similar incident, national legal analyst Candice Bond is available for a free consultation. Use the contact information provided 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).