23-year-old Ashley Garcia was in critical condition after the 2006 Kia Rioshe she was riding in crashed into a swimming pool behind a North County home on June 19 around 11:55 p.m. near Escondido.
The driver of the car, 33-year-old Robert Aaron Anderson, reportedly got out of the vehicle, leaving his girlfriend, Garcia, trapped inside. Moments later, a neighbor, 22-year-old Jarit Welles, dove into the pool, freed Garcia, and pulled her out.
Welles performed CPR until the paramedics arrived at the accident scene to restore Garcia’s pulse and respiration. Garcia was immediately taken to Palomar Medical Center to receive medical treatment for the life-threatening injuries suffered.
Anderson initially denied being the driver, putting the blame on his younger girlfriend. He was going at a speed of approximately 80-90 miles an hour when he lost control of the vehicle on Calavo Road, also called “Roller Coaster Road.” It is given that name because speeding cars hit the bump on the road, which causes some to go airborne for a short time. Anderson was taken to the CHP’s Oceanside station for questioning and later released pending further investigation into the accident.
Residents of Calavo Road say that they have been asking the county since 1999 to make improvements to the street. A neighbor named three other accidents on that stretch of road caused by speeding drivers.
According to CHP’s 2009 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were 71 fatalities and 5,819 injuries reported as a result of car accidents in San Diego. Countywide, 217 people died and 12,998 were injured due to car accidents, during the same year.
Because excessive speed was determined to be a major factor in the crash, the driver could be held financially responsible for the injuries to the female passenger.
In situations such as this one, where a passenger is the victim of a serious auto accident, the injured passenger or their family members may benefit from speaking to a personal injury attorney about their rights to compensation for their medical expenses, lost earnings, and pain and suffering.
If you or someone you love has been injured or killed due to a speeding driver, talk to an experienced San Diego County car crash injury lawyer to ensure that your legal rights are protected. At the Jurewitz Law Group, our dedicated legal team will work to get you the most money for your injuries. For a free assessment of your case, call our legal team at (888) 233-5020.
Ross Jurewitz
Ross Jurewitz is the founder and managing lawyer of the Jurewitz Law Group, a San Diego personal injury attorney law firm. These San Diego injury accident lawyers specialize in helping people seriously injured in a variety of accidents throughout San Diego County and California.
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