Merced County, CA – A fiery head-on collision early Friday morning, October 11, 2024, on Highway 165 claimed the life of one driver and hospitalized another, according to The Fresno Bee.
The accident occurred around 7 AM on a rural stretch of the highway between Los Banos and Stevinson, involving a Honda and a dump truck.
The driver of the dump truck, 37-year-old Davood Khodyseporgh of Turlock, was traveling southbound when his vehicle was struck head-on by a northbound Honda. The identity of the Honda driver, who was tragically killed in the crash, has not yet been released, pending notification of next of kin.
According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), the driver of the Honda attempted to pass slower vehicles by moving into the southbound lane and collided head-on with Khodyseporgh’s truck.
The impact of the crash caused the Honda to burst into flames. Despite swift response from California Department of Fire personnel, the driver of the Honda was pronounced dead at the scene about 45 minutes after the crash was reported. Khodyseporgh was taken to Emanuel Hospital in Turlock for treatment of his injuries and was expected to fully recover.
The CHP is continuing to investigate the circumstances of the collision, including whether drugs or alcohol were involved. Authorities are withholding the identity of the deceased until the family has been notified.
Wrongful Death Claims
Determining fault in an accident can involve many factors. One key way a personal injury attorney can support families after the loss of a loved one is by helping to establish legal responsibility.
If someone else is found even partly responsible for the death, the family may be able to file a Wrongful Death claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance. This can provide compensation to help cover medical bills, funeral expenses, and the loss of income to support the family of the deceased.
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.
