San Jose, CA — According to NBC Bay Area, a wrong-way crash on Highway 85 in San Jose claimed the lives of a 47-year-old mother and her 14-year-old son on Monday afternoon, August 26, 2024. The two were traveling in a Tesla Model Y when they were struck head-on by a pickup truck driver identified as 39-year-old Duncan McQuarrie from Orlando, Florida, who was going the wrong way.
The accident occurred near the Highway 87 split and Santa Teresa Boulevard, an area often bustling with traffic during the late afternoon. CHP reports indicate that the driver of a Toyota Tacoma, identified as 39-year-old Duncan McQuarrie from Orlando, Florida, was speeding southbound in the northbound lanes around 3:40 PM. Despite calls alerting authorities to the wrong-way driver, the collision occurred before officers could intervene.
The mother and son, both San Jose residents, were pronounced dead at the scene. The woman was reportedly on her way to pick up her son, a freshman at Summit Tahoma High School in San Jose, when the accident occurred. The high school has since offered support to students grappling with the news of their classmate’s death.
McQuarrie, who sustained major injuries, was transported to a hospital where he remains under guard, pending potential charges. His arrest record reveals a history of legal troubles, including driving without a license earlier this year, possession of cocaine in 2021, and a drunk driving incident in 2013.
Investigators have not yet determined whether drugs or alcohol were factors in Monday’s crash.
Wrongful Death Claims
While no amount of money can bring back loved ones lost in a vehicular fatality, the emotional toll of such a loss is often compounded by the financial burden that falls on surviving family members.
Filing a Wrongful Death claim with the insurance provider of those who bear even partial liability can provide compensation to help cover medical expenses, burial costs, and the loss of support for the deceased’s dependents.
Insurance companies have a vested interest in minimizing the payouts for claims. Therefore, the expertise of a skilled personal injury attorney is crucial in securing fair compensation and justice for the deceased.
