UPDATE: Harold Liberty IV, 19, Azucena Perez, 32, Infant Girl Killed in Wrong-Way Crash on I-580, Corral Hollow Rd in Tracy

Tracy, CA – According to KCRA, Easter brought tragedy for those involved in a wrong-way crash on Interstate 580 in the early hours of Sunday, March 31, 2024, which led to the loss of two lives and left several others severely injured.

The tragedy unfolded just after 2 AM, west of Corral Hollow Road, as a 19-year-old Antioch man, Harold Liberty IV, drove his Honda eastbound in the westbound lanes, resulting in a head-on collision with a Kia. Liberty was ejected from his vehicle and succumbed to his injuries at the scene.

The Kia driver, 32-year-old Azucena Perez from Fort Bragg, also tragically lost her life despite efforts to save her at San Joaquin General Hospital. The passengers in the Kia, including a 32-year-old man and two children — a two-month-old baby girl and a 4-year-old boy — were initially hospitalized at UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento with varying degrees of injuries. The baby girl tragically passed away the following day.

The California Highway Patrol (CHP) is actively investigating the circumstances that led to this horrific crash, particularly focusing on why Liberty was driving on the wrong side of the freeway. Speculation regarding the involvement of alcohol or drugs has also surfaced, although official statements from the CHP regarding these factors are pending.

Liability, Personal Injury, and Wrongful Death Claims

Following a horrific accident like the one above, particularly when loved ones are lost and children are injured, can bring up strong emotions of shock, sadness, and anger that cry out for swift justice and may lead to too swiftly allocating blame.

For readers, it can be important to remember that journalists are not in a position to determine liability, and the statements from law enforcement are often only initial investigations. Additional evidence has to be collected to determine liability, a process that a good personal injury attorney can help victims and their families navigate.

Anyone involved in such an accident should know that criminal charges do not have to be filed for them to have grounds to file a personal injury or wrongful death claim with the insurance providers of parties even partially responsible for a vehicular accident.

While the compensation provided by a personal injury or wrongful death claim cannot heal the hurt of such a traumatic event, those funds can go toward addressing the sudden cost of medical expenses, burial fees, loss of income due to physical recovery time, and loss of support for dependents of the deceased.

A knowledgeable personal injury attorney can help grieving families through this difficult time and negotiate with insurance companies to secure proper compensation for their loss.

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