In a tragic head-on collision, two people died while driving on the Ramona Expressway near San Jacinto – a location notorious for serious motor crashes. The fatal accident was reported by witnesses early in the morning on Saturday, Aug. 8. Then, one of the vehicles caught fire.
While one of the drivers was found dead inside of their car, the other person sustained serious injuries and later died at the scene of the accident. Upon investigation of the accident, it appeared that the car traveling westbound on the expressway drifted over the double-yellow line and struck the car heading eastbound. One of the victims of this tragic accident was a 74-year-old member of the Perris community. The other victim’s name has not been released.
This unfortunate accident marks yet another instance of a deadly collision along the Ramona Expressway. At least 12 drivers, passengers, or pedestrians have died in collisions along this stretch of road in the past 12 months. In the first six months of 2018, there were at least 33 recorded crashes along the Ramona Expressway. With a history of serious auto accidents, many warn of increased speed or distracted driving while on this particular roadway.
As construction begins on the new six-lane Mid-County parkway between 215 Freeway and San Jacinto, transportation officials hope to see less traffic on this dangerous stretch of road. However, some believe that this will not be enough to improve the safety of the Ramona Expressway for drivers and pedestrians alike.
Dangers of The Ramona Expressway
The Ramona Expressway sits between Perris and San Jacinto and at a point narrows to a one-lane highway in each direction. Changing from a multilane road down to a single lane can make it more difficult to navigate for drivers at night, dawn, or dusk. Unfortunately, some drivers do not take the proper precautions along this stretch of road to ensure safety for themselves and others who utilize the road, causing some of the many preventable accidents the road has seen in the past.
Transport and law officials are quick to tell drivers, pedestrians, and others on the road that distractions are normally at the root of these horrific accidents. Whether distracted drivers, increased speeds, lack of sleep, or driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, some drivers do not take this stretch of road as seriously as they should. These and other factors have contributed to deadly crashes, leading to officers increasing patrol efforts along this portion of the roadway to protect those who drive it.
Utilize Our Legal Services Today
Unfortunately, some drivers do not adhere to posted speed limits or take the safety of other drivers into their consideration before getting behind the wheel of their vehicle. Especially upon roadways like the Ramona Expressway, undistracted and uninfluenced driving is key to maintaining the safety for anyone traveling on the road.
Despite a person’s best efforts, there are still tragic instances where a safe driver is injured by the actions of a negligent driver. Either through the use of drugs, alcohol, or other distractions like a cell phone, a car accident can leave a person inconvenienced, stressed, and possibly injured. If serious damage, or possible death, occurs, a person may benefit from reaching out to legal counsel that will strive to hold the negligent driver accountable for their reckless actions.
If you or a loved one were injured in a car accident on Ramona Expressway or another California roadway, we could help you pursue legal compensation and justice. At Karlin & Karlin, we have years of experience in successfully representing our clients who have been involved in serious and complicated auto, truck, and motorcycle accidents.
Whether you would like our knowledgeable legal counsel to answer a few of your questions with a free consultation, or if you would like to begin your case with our dedicated firm, we could be of service to you in this difficult time. Call us today to learn more.
