A couple has lost all five of their children in a deadly California car accident. Carlos and Jennifer Salazar were riding in a pickup truck with their five kids, all of them younger than age 8, on Saturday afternoon when the vehicle they were riding was struck by a speeding car traveling at close to 80 mph that was fleeing from a police officer. Four of the couple's five kids were thrown from the vehicle.
Carlos, 29, sustained internal injuries, a concussion, and broken bones. His wife Jennifer, 26, shattered her pelvis and her ankle and injured her face. The couple and their kids, 8-year-old Eric, 7-year-old Jochelyn Grace, 4-year-old Monique Janae, 3-year-old Michael Alexander, and 1-year-old Sienna Rose, were not wearing seat belts or using child safety seats.
Events leading to the tragic California car crash began unfolding just before 2pm when Dinuba Police Officer Marcus Nunes saw a speeding Dodge Neon run a stop sign. He began pursuing the car, which soon after ran another stop sign. The vehicle then struck the pickup truck carrying the Salazar family.
Three teenagers who were riding in the speeding vehicle, Oscar Esparza, 17, Richard Carrasco, 16, and Arthur Rivas, 19, all died from the injuries they sustained in the California car accident.
Police would later discover that the teens had been riding in a stolen car belonging to 26-year-old David Sperl who was mugged earlier that day. The robbers had held him up at gunpoint and demanded his wallet, cell phone, and car.
Meantime, Nunes has been placed on paid administrative leave. There are reportedly many factors Dinuba police officers must consider regarding whether or not it is safe to continue pursuing a suspect. However, the city's police department has no speed limit for police pursuits.
Deadly Police Pursuits
Deadly police pursuits can prove fatal not only for the parties involved in the chase, but for innocent bystanders riding in cars and walking on the road who just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. Police officers must exercise caution when pursuing anyone so that nobody gets hurt.
If someone you love was killed in an Orange County, California car accident because another party was reckless or negligent, you may have grounds for filing a wrongful death case.
Salazar Family Coping With Unthinkable Tragedy, ABC Local Go, August 11, 2009
Police chase leads to 8 deaths in California, AP, August 11, 2009
Related Web Resources:
Deadly Chases, Voices Insisting on Pursuit Safety
In Orange County, California, our Anaheim car accident lawyers would like you to contact us to discuss your case during a free personal injury case evaluation.
