Fresno, CA — Two men identified by the Fresno County Coroner’s Office as Miguel Ramirez Jr., 22, and Christopher Fernandez, 27, both of Fresno, lost their lives early Wednesday morning, August 21, 2024, in a collision involving a dune buggy and a big rig, The Fresno Bee.
The accident occurred around 1 AM at the intersection of Westlawn and Belmont Avenues, a largely rural area with sparse lighting and minimal traffic at that hour. Investigations suggest that the off-road vehicle, not equipped with the lights and safety features for street driving, approached the intersection at Belmont Avenue but failed to stop at the posted stop sign.
As the dune buggy crossed into the intersection, it was struck by an eastbound big rig driven by a 52-year-old man. The impact was severe, and both Ramirez, who was driving the dune buggy, and Fernandez, the passenger, were pronounced dead at the scene.
The intersection of Westlawn and Belmont Avenues is surrounded by open fields and is known for its low traffic volume but can be particularly hazardous at night due to poor visibility and infrequent stop signs.
The driver of the big rig remained at the scene and cooperated with officers. Authorities do not suspect that the big rig driver was impaired at the time of the accident.
Passenger Liability
The liability insurance that drivers carry covers accidental harm caused not only to those outside the vehicle but also to passengers within it. While making a Wrongful Death or personal injury claim against someone who knew the victim can be emotionally challenging, the financial burdens following a vehicular accident can be substantial.
A skilled personal injury attorney can help grieving families seek proper compensation for their loss by navigating these complex issues and negotiating on the victim’s behalf with insurance companies, who routinely work to minimize the payout of any claim they cannot deny.
Comparative Negligence
California Law upholds the concept of Comparative Negligence, which allows more than one party to share blame in a personal injury accident. Injured victims may have their compensation reduced if they are found partially to blame.
