San Jose, CA — According to CBS News, a wrong-way accident on Highway 101 in South San Jose claimed the life of a 22-year-old man on Friday morning. The collision, which also resulted in a significant diesel fuel spill, occurred shortly after 11:15 AM near Blossom Hill Road.
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) reported that the incident began when the young man drove his Honda sedan the wrong way onto southbound 101 from Blossom Hill Road, heading northbound. In an attempt to avoid a collision, the driver of a southbound big rig swerved to the left but struck the oncoming car regardless.
The impact caused the Honda to spin out and come to rest on the center divide, while the big rig halted in the two left lanes. The force of the crash ejected the Honda’s driver from the vehicle. Santa Clara County medical responders pronounced him dead at the scene at approximately 11:31 AM. Authorities are withholding his identity until the Santa Clara County Coroner can notify his family.
The big-rig driver emerged from the crash unscathed, but the truck sustained extensive damage, resulting in a diesel spill. Cleanup efforts were ongoing Friday afternoon, with the left two lanes remaining closed to facilitate the investigation and fuel removal. The CHP has not yet determined whether alcohol or drugs contributed to the crash.
Wrongful Death Claims
Establishing fault in a collision can depend on multiple factors. Helping to determine legal liability is one of the ways that a personal injury attorney can help grieving families recovering from the loss of a loved one in a traffic accident.
Suppose it is determined that another party holds some portion of responsibility for their loved one’s death. In that case, they may be eligible to file a wrongful death claim with the insurance provider of the at-fault driver. A wrongful death claim can provide compensation to help cover hospital fees, burial costs, and the loss of support for dependents of the deceased.
