Fresno, CA – A wrong-way collision on Highway 99 early Saturday morning, December 28, 2024, claimed the lives of two people, identified as 64-year-old Paul Weldon of Fresno and 73-year-old Mariana Perez Tinajero of Selma, and injured several others, according to The Fresno Bee.
The crash occurred just before 7:30 AM south of Shaw Avenue after reports of a northbound Lexus ES300 traveling in the highway’s southbound lanes.
According to the California Highway Patrol, the Lexus, driven by Weldon, entered the highway at Ashlan Avenue and collided head-on with a southbound Ford F-150. The Ford, driven by a 47-year-old man, was carrying five passengers. The collision caused both vehicles to spin within the lanes and crash into a Honda Civic driven by a 26-year-old man.
Weldon and Tinajero, a passenger in the Ford, were pronounced dead at the scene. The other five occupants of the Ford were transported to Community Regional Medical Center with injuries ranging from moderate to major, while the Honda driver sustained only minor injuries and was treated at the scene.
The CHP is investigating the cause of the crash, including whether drugs or alcohol were involved.
Wrongful Death Claims
Determining fault in a collision can involve multiple factors, and under California’s Comparative Liability rule, several parties can share partial responsibility. A personal injury attorney can play a crucial role in helping victims establish legal responsibility after a traffic accident.
Should someone else be 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.
Passenger Liability
Driver liability insurance covers both those outside the vehicle and passengers inside. While it can be emotionally difficult to file a Wrongful Death claim against someone close to the victim, the financial challenges after an accident can be overwhelming.
A skilled personal injury attorney can help families pursue proper compensation for their loss by handling these legal complexities and negotiating with insurance companies, who always try to reduce payouts on claims they cannot deny.
If you or someone you love was harmed in an accident like the one described here, feel free to contact Maison Law for any questions or to receive a no-cost, no-obligation case assessment.