An elderly woman was killed when a wrong-way driver traveling at speeds of about 100 mph on the 73 Freeway in Newport Beach the morning of June 5 caused a five-car pileup near John Wayne Airport. According to a CBS Los Angeles news report, a 65-year-old woman in a BMW was instantly killed in a head-on collision with a Mercedes. The driver of the Mercedes, a 23-year-old Newport Beach man, was transported to the hospital with undisclosed injuries but is expected to survive.
Reckless Driving and Speeding
Witnesses told CBS that the driver was seen swerving between cars just seconds before the crash. One woman told CBS that the Mercedes sideswiped her and then glanced in her rear-view mirror where she saw it crash head-on into the BMW. CHP investigators are reportedly treating the incident as an intentional act, which means the driver could face murder charges. CHP officials said they first got calls about the Mercedes seen driving recklessly on city streets.
The vehicle then got on the freeway on the wrong way traveling at a high rate of speed causing this crash. Officials said they are treating it as an intentional act, as a homicide. They said they will decide as they investigate further whether or not it will be treated as an intentional act or as a traffic accident. Six people in five cars were involved in the crash. Officials are still looking into whether alcohol or drugs contributed to this crash. The investigation is ongoing.
We offer our deepest condolences to the family members of the woman who was killed in this horrific crash. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
Justice for Victims and Families
Based on this news report, it appears that the driver of the Mercedes was operating the vehicle recklessly even before he got on the freeway and rammed into the BMW while going the wrong way. Officials don’t seem certain if alcohol or drugs were involved. At this point, it appears they are trying to pin down why this driver was behaving in that manner and why he caused this fatal wreck.
In such cases, the at-fault driver, in addition to facing criminal charges, can be held financially responsible for the injuries, damages and losses caused. In such cases where negligence or wrongdoing was involved, families of deceased victims can file a wrongful death lawsuit seeking compensation for their injuries, damages and losses. An experienced Newport Beach personal injury lawyer will be able to guide victims and families through what can be a complex legal process and help them secure maximum compensation for their losses.
