The San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office officially identified two service members as the deceased from last week’s I-5 crash near Oceanside. The victims were identified as Jacob Johnson, 21, and Eduardo Hernandez Zambrano, 19, US Marines who were stationed at Camp Pendleton.
The accident occurred just before 9 pm on Thursday, April 25th. The 2016 Hyundai sedan was traveling in the southbound lanes of I-5, near Cocklerburr Road, when the driver – believed to be Johnson – lost control of the vehicle and struck a trailer parked along the shoulder of the road.
When medical personnel arrived, they had to extract both men from the vehicle. Unfortunately, they were both later pronounced dead on the scene.
According to the medical examiner, both men were wearing seat belts at the time of impact. The cause of death was determined to be multiple blunt force injuries and was an accident. However, officials are still investigating what caused the vehicle to lose control and crash into the trailer.
At this time, officials believe the sedan was traveling at a high rate of speed prior to losing control and crashing.
How Speed Affects The Severity Of Injuries In Car Collisions
Speed not only increases the likelihood of a collision, but it also has a direct impact on the consequences. There is a direct correlation between speed and injury severity in car accidents. When vehicles collide at higher speeds, the force of impact is exponentially increased, thus magnifying the damage inflicted on both the vehicle and its occupants.
Data collected by Caltrans vividly illustrated this point. According to their data, each year in California there is an average of 3,600 fatalities and 13,000 serious injuries caused by car accidents. Around 34 percent of the injuries and fatalities caused are related to speeding.
Moreover, the aftermath of high-speed accidents extends beyond the physical injuries of those involved in the accident, devastating families, disrupting livelihoods, and shaking communities. “Our hearts go out to the family and friends of Jacob Johnson and Eduardo Hernandez Zambrano,” says attorney Paul Starita, of Singleton Schreiber, “as a personal injury lawyer, I’ve seen how devastating accidents like this one impact the families and communities of those involved. It’s important for the families involved to know they may have options and can speak with a car accident attorney to learn more about their options.”
While speeding is a major factor in accidents, it is not the only factor that contributes. Other common causes of car accidents include:
If you have been injured or tragically lost a loved one in a car accident you may be able to obtain compensation. To learn more contact a car accident attorney in San Diego today by calling (619) 771-3473 or emailing info@singletonschreiber.com.
