1 person dead, 4 injured after an allegedly impaired driver from Madera causes 5-vehicle crash
MADERA, CA, (August 18, 2024) - One person was killed and four others injured in a traffic accident on State Route 145, just west of the Santa Fe Railroad Over-crossing in Madera County, officials said.
Los Banos resident Maria Herrera was injured in a multi-vehicle crash involving a suspected drunk driver in Madera County on Sunday night. At least one person lost their life in the wreck, according to the CHP.
The crash, involving five cars, happened on Sunday at approximately 11:15 p.m.
According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP) Madera Area Office, a 2008 Dodge Charger driven by Brandon Johns was traveling westbound on SR 145 when it veered into the eastbound lane, colliding head-on with an oncoming Ford F-150. Moments later, three vehicles—a 2012 Nissan Rogue, a 2012 Toyota Prius, and a 2020 RAM pickup—were also involved in the wreck, which claimed the life of Ford's driver.
Four people, including a passenger in the RAM, Maria Herrera of Los Banos, were transported to hospitals with varying degrees of injuries.
Johns, 39, of Madera, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol.
This is an ongoing investigation.
CRASH INVESTIGATION NEEDED
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly 2.5 million people were injured in motor vehicle crashes in 2021.
“Road conditions, visibility, and lighting are all possible contributing factors that are considered and require thorough examination,” said Candice Bond, a 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, an experienced auto accident attorney.
PERSONAL INJURY CLAIM
Maria Herrera may have the right to pursue a personal injury claim pending an investigation.
Stefano Formica, of counsel at Bond Legal, 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,” he added.
If you, a friend, or a family member have been injured at the hands of a hit-and-run or drunken driver, contact our national legal analysts Candice Bond and Stefano Formica for a free consultation for guidance
(Candice Bond, Managing Partner, and Stefano Formica, Of Counsel, at Bond Legal, are the national legal analysts for Newsline. 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).