Salinas, CA – According to KSBW, on Sunday, February 11, 2024, 53-year-old Salinas man Jorge Vasquez Topete died in a collision with 27-year-old Juan Manuel Gonzalez.
Around 11:41 PM, their vehicles crashed at the intersection of North Sanborn Road and Freedom Parkway. Police arrived at the scene to find one driver, Topete, deceased accompanied by a heavily injured passenger, who was taken to Natividad Medical Center for treatment.
They found the other vehicle and a man fleeing the scene on foot, who was later identified as Gonzalez. On the morning of Monday, February 12, 2024, police officers arrested Gonzalez and booked him on multiple charges, including vehicular manslaughter, felony hit-and-run, and driving without a license.
Wrongful Death Claims
Even in cases where criminal charges are not brought to bear, families who have lost a loved one in a fatal collision may be able to file a wrongful death claim with the insurance provider of the at-fault driver.
The compensation provided by a wrongful death claim can relieve the financial burdens created by medical expenses, burial costs, and the loss of income to support any dependents of the deceased.
Insurance companies will work to reduce any claim they cannot deny, which is where the help of a knowledgeable personal injury attorney can prove invaluable by negotiating on behalf of victims and their families to ensure they receive proper compensation.
