Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Police Looking for Hit and Run Driver who Struck Woman in San Diego

The police are currently looking for the driver who left a car accident that killed a woman in San Diego early Friday morning.

According to San Diego police, the hit-and-run accident occurred in Market Street at around 2:15 am.

The 35-year-old woman was getting out of her car when she was struck by a blue truck.

The driver was not there when police responded on the scene.

Once found, the driver can be charged with a misdemeanor count of leaving an accident scene.

Under the law, we are required to exchange information with those involved in the accident and assist those who were injured.

Not being able to do so would make you criminally liable and will lead to prosecution by the DA.

The family of the victim may also file a wrongful death suit against the driver once he is found.

The damages collected by the family will depend on the victim’s income, life expectancy and other contributions to the family.

Monday, February 22, 2010

Speeding Caused Crash that Killed Driver

The driver of a northbound Ford Explorer that was involved in a recent vehicle collision was killed after she was broadsided by a speeding eastbound Mercedes that ran a red light at an intersection.

According to reports, 45-year-old Christine Ann Ingle of Rio Linda was driving along the 16th street when she was hit by the unidentified driver of the Mercedes that was going 70-100mph on C Street.

Five others sustained minor injuries in the accident and they were all taken to a hospital.

Sadly, in most cases of speeding and DUI that causes accidents, the negligent driver almost always is the one to survive. If proven guilty, the negligent driver will likely face jail time and pay compensatory damages to the family of his victim.

There is no sure way to avoid accidents caused by speeding or DUI. However, every motorist can discipline himself to make streets safer for everyone.

Friday, February 19, 2010

Man Trapped in Burning Van Saved by “Angels”

A high school art teacher received a second chance to live after he was pulled out of a burning van on the 91 freeway by two strangers whom he referred to as “angels from heaven.”

According to reports, Said Abdelsayed, 52, was traveling east along the area using a Dodge Caravan, which was converted to provide space for his wheelchair, when he noticed the smoke’s odor.

He then pulled over and the van began to burn when he opened the right cargo door.

Abdelsayed tried to get out of the vehicle but failed to do so because he was not seated on the wheelchair at that time.

Luckily, two strangers suddenly arrived and pulled him to safety, said reports.

The strangers also saved a number of Abdelsayed’s artworks from the burning vehicle before leaving the area. The art teacher showed his gratitude by trying to give them a piece of his painting.

Monday, February 15, 2010

Los Angeles Rookie Police Officers May be Included in Layoffs

The Los Angeles Police Department is no longer enjoying the immunity that was formerly provided to it by the city.

In fact, the city’s budget analyst recommended that hundreds of the Police Academy’s rookie officers can be removed from the department in the aim of solving the $218 million budget deficit this year.

According to reports, it was suggested that 87 trainees and at least 616 recent graduates who are now members of the department should be laid off.

The cutbacks do not cover a proposal to remove about 1,000 city jobs in the current fiscal year.

Friday, February 12, 2010

Muni Video Reveals Pedestrian Accident Happened in Crosswalk

Pedestrians who use crosswalks can still be injured due to the presence of drivers who have no respect for traffic rules.

In fact, a Muni bus video showed how a 78-year-old female pedestrian was hit by the vehicle while she was walking in a crosswalk along the Portola neighborhood in San Francisco.

According to reports, the driver said she failed to notice the pedestrian’s presence and that she apparently swerved at the last moment in an unsuccessful attempt to avoid contact.

Police said the pedestrian, who sustained external and critical injuries, was brought to San Francisco General Hospital and is now under critical condition.

Reports stated that the woman was crossing San Bruno Avenue along Burrows Street when she was suddenly hit by a 9-San Bruno bus that was moving southbound.

The video revealed that she was walking along the yellow-stripped crosswalk located on the intersection’s south area, around 15 feet from the curb, when the incident occurred.

The driver was placed on a non-driving status. Results of alcohol and drug tests are not yet available.

The vehicle was apparently moving at a speed of around 15 mph when it hit the pedestrian.

Reports said the intersection has no stop signs or stoplights.

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Man Charged for Crash Caused by Underage Driver

A last month’s fatal accident believed to be caused by an 11-year-old driver who failed to stop at a red light is now blamed on the only passenger who survived the crash that killed the boy, his sister, and their mother.

Thirty-four-year-old Froylan Zamora Gonzalez was charged with two counts of child endangerment and three counts of vehicular manslaughter immediately after he was released from the hospital where he was treated for major injuries he sustained in the crash.

Relatives of the 11-year-old boy, Jose Silva Covarrubias, believe that he was having his driving lessons when the accident happened. It is initially reported that the family along with their housemate, Gonzalez, was heading home after Jose’s soccer practice.

Gonzalez’ negligence and role in the accident is not clear but he will now shoulder all these charges for the car accident which shouldn’t have happened if he didn’t allow the mother let the young boy drive the vehicle.

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Songwriter Sues Terry Perry for Copyright Infringement

Copyright law protects the owner of an original work against people who might use it without the owner’s permission.

A songwriter is now fighting for his rights under this law by filing a copyright infringement lawsuit against Terry Perry, claiming that a Gospel song was illegally used on the show “Meet the Browns.”

In a lawsuit filed by Johnny Tyrone Stringfield in Los Angeles federal court, he claimed that some of the show’s characters sang the song’s lyrics in an episode aired the previous year.

He said that those lyrics were from the song “I Got Away,” which he already copyrighted in 2008.

The songwriter now wants to receive over $100,000 from Perry and the companies that are behind the show.