A man and a passenger fled the scene of a car accident, leaving a second passenger trapped in the crashed car. She passed away from her injuries.
The accident happened on Route 94, as the 1999 Mercedes headed east. The 27-year-old man who was driving apparently lost control of the car. It left the freeway, drove through the dirt shoulder, and slammed into a guardrail. That impact cause it to go airborne, and it flipped and rolled through the median.
When the car finally stopped upright but with a crushed roof, the driver and a 22-year-old female passenger who was in the front passenger seat got out and ran. They left another mortally wounded woman behind in the car. Emergency crews eventually responded and took her to Sharp Memorial Hospital, but it was too late.
Even though the reports say that the crash happened for “unknown reasons,” it is worth noting that police eventually found and arrested the man, whom they think was intoxicated at the time of the wreck. He and the woman had gone into a nearby canyon to hide, but police were able to locate them. They also suffered injuries in the crash. The driver is now facing potential charges for vehicular manslaughter and causing a hit-and-run.
After a fatal accident, it is very important for the family members left behind to know if they have a right to financial compensation. When someone else is negligent or reckless — perhaps by breaking the law and leaving an injured person behind — survivors may be able to get compensation for medical bills, funeral costs, lost wages and other damages.