Paso Robles, CA – According to The San Luis Obispo Tribune, Brianna Mae Thomas of Paso Robles was killed on Wednesday afternoon, August 28, 2024, when her vehicle collided with a big rig.
The crash occurred at approximately 12:15 PM near the Wellsona Truck Stop intersection of Highway 101, an area infamous for its history of fatal accidents. Between 2012 and 2016, six people died in crashes at this intersection, prompting plans to construct an underpass to improve safety.
Thomas was driving eastbound on Wellsona Road when she approached the intersection with Highway 101. She continued straight through the intersection but, tragically, did not yield to the right-of-way of an oncoming big rig driven by 44-year-old Justin Levi Adams of Pahrump, Nevada. Adams was traveling northbound in the second lane of the highway when Thomas’s vehicle entered his path.
The big rig struck the right front door of Thomas’s vehicle with significant force. The impact caused Thomas’s car to come to rest in the left lane, partially within the center divider, just north of Wellsona Road. The big rig came to a halt on the east shoulder of the highway, also just north of the intersection.
Debris from the collision partially obstructed traffic, complicating the response efforts. In the aftermath of the collision, diesel fuel began spilling from the big rig, creating additional hazards on the highway. By 1:08 PM, the spill had been contained, and traffic lanes were cleared of the debris.
It is currently unknown whether drugs or alcohol played a role in the crash, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Wrongful Death Claims
Establishing fault in a collision can depend on multiple factors. One crucial way a personal injury attorney can assist grieving families is by determining legal liability after the loss of a loved one in a traffic accident.
If another party is found to hold some responsibility for the death, the family may be eligible to file a Wrongful Death claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance provider. This claim can provide compensation to help cover hospital fees, burial costs, and the loss of support for the deceased’s dependents.
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.
