LAGUNA NIGUEL, California ? Police are searching for the hit and run driver who struck and killed Carlos Salas, 20, of Laguna Niguel while he was riding his skateboard early Friday morning at the intersection of Golden Lantern and Marina Hills Drive, according to a press release issued by the Orange County Sheriff Coroner Department.
The Saddleback College student was allegedly struck in the street about 3:48 a.m. by a black 1998 Nissan Maxima whose driver kept going and dragged him roughly 25 feet, according to a report by ABC 7 News. The driver quickly abandoned the vehicle less about a quarter of a mile away from where they killed the skateboard rider. Police have traced the vehicle to a Dana Point resident, but have not confirmed whether the vehicle?s owner is the actual driver at the time of the crash.
Paramedics responding to the scene of the pedestrian accident transported Salas to Mission Hospital Regional Medical Center in Mission Viejo where he later died a short time later at 4:25 a.m.
If you have information about this skateboard accident please call the Orange County Sheriff?s Department at (949) 425-1860 or leave a tip at (855) TIP-OCCS.
Fatal Skateboard Accidents in the United States
There were 42 skateboard riders killed in 2011 including 30 who were struck by a vehicle or that involved a vehicle in some manner, according to the 2011 USA Skateboarding Fatality Report, a study compiled by Skaters for Public Skateparks, a non-profit skatepark advocacy organization located in Portland, Oregon.
Six of the vehicle-involved fatal crashes were in California, the state with the highest number of deaths totaling 11 in 2011. ?Most of the people killed were young males ages 12 to 35 years old, only two victims were females, the report said.
?Skateboarders are pedestrians and have rights under California law and drivers have duty to drive carefully when pedestrians are present,? said Attorney West Seegmiller, founder of the Seegmiller Law Firm. ?I am confident that police will eventually find this driver and he or she will likely be charged with felony hit and run and possibly vehicular manslaughter for leaving the scene of the crash.?
Families of victims killed in a skateboard accident have rights under California law too. The driver responsibly may not only be held criminally liable, but can be sued in civil court.
?This driver should be held accountable for his or her actions so that something like this never happens again,? Seegmiller said.
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Find out if you have a case against a negligent driver by calling for a free consultation. The Seegmiller Law Firm can be reached at 1-855-ASK?WEST.? For over 30 years, the firm has been a staunch advocate for victims? rights and has fought for clients involved in personal injury and wrongful death cases, including premises liability, product liability, auto accidents, skateboard accidents, dog bites, nursing home negligence, medical malpractice, at-work injuries and more.? The firm has offices in Irvine, Riverside, Los Angeles and San Bernardino, California, and Las Vegas, Nevada.
Legal Disclaimer: The California personal injury information on this site should not be construed as formal legal advice nor the formation of an attorney client relationship. Call us anytime for a free consultation.
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