San Diego Personal Injury Attorney Blog

What started as a response to a domestic disturbance call early Tuesday in Escondido ended in tragedy, when an officer fired multiple shots and killed a 25-year-old man. According to Escondido police, the man, Randy Wayne Mullins confronted officers knocking on the front door of his home with a shotgun. A struggle ensued, and after police officers tried to wrestle the gun away, an officer fired multiple shots that struck Mullins in the torso. He died at the scene.

The officer who shot Mullins, who has not been named, was put on paid administrative leave, as is standard procedure in all officer-involved shootings. The incident remains under investigation. Following the shooting at about 3 a.m. Tuesday, investigators were at the home until about midnight gathering evidence.

Excessive Use of Force?

Excessive force by police officers is a problem that may result from lack of training, lack of supervision, and lack of enforcement of police department rules. Police officers have tough jobs, and have to make decisions of when to use deadly weapons and when not to. While they must protect themselves, they also have the obligation to protect suspects. Making these decisions in stressful situations can be a matter of life and death. However, when police officers violate the rights of individuals, they must be held accountable.

Liability Issues and Wrongful Death

The family of Randy Mullins would be well-advised to speak with an San Diego wrongful death attorney as soon as possible. An attorney can help the family understand and protect their legal rights following this officer-involved shooting, and explain whether they may be eligible to compensation for their loved one's death in a wrongful death lawsuit.

Continue reading "25-Year-Old Man Shot and Killed by Police Officer At Escondido Home " »

The big auto insurance companies fighting to get your business love to tell you about the savings you'll enjoy going with one insurance company over another. While paying as little as possible may be a good strategy when picking out your cable or internet package, it is important to remember that your auto insurance policy is not solely for the purpose of meeting minimum coverage state laws. Much more importantly, it is an investment to protect you in the event you are in an accident resulting in injury or death to you, your passengers, and others on the road.

Some statistics indicate that as many as one out of every three drivers is uninsured or inadequately insured. So, how can you protect yourself if you are struck by another driver that has no insurance coverage, or minimum insurance coverage? Be proactive, and make sure part of your insurance policy includes uninsured motorist coverage (UM) and underinsured motorist coverage (UIM). By law, your auto insurance company is required include uninsured motorist coverage as part of every automobile policy written, unless you specifically decline it in writing.

Visit our website to learn more about uninsured and underinsured coverage and how much auto insurance you should carry. If you have been injured in an accident in San Diego and are looking to get maximum compensation for your case, contact the San Diego auto accident attorneys at Estey Bomberger for a free consultation.

If you are badly hurt in a slip and fall accident in San Diego, you may be wondering whether the owner of the property or the tenant is responsible for your injuries. Accidents caused by sidewalk cracks, broken or defective stairways, slippery surfaces, liquid spills, and poorly lit walkways are just a few of the hazards that may cause serious injuries, like ankle fractures, arm fractures, spinal cord injuries, and even traumatic brain injuries. In the video below, attorney Mike Bomberger explains slip and fall accidents, the area of law called premises liability, the common types of injuries people sustain in slip and fall accidents, and some misconceptions about slip and fall accidents.

If you have been injured in a slip and fall accident, contact the San Diego slip and fall accident lawyers at Estey Bomberger to find out if you have a valid claim for your injuries. See our other slip and fall accident video FAQ's for more information:

• What Is A Slip & Fall Or Trip & Fall Lawsuit In California?
• What Are Some Common Injuries From Slip & Fall Accidents?
• What's A Common Misconception About Slip & Fall Cases?
• Is There A Time Limit On Filing A Slip & Fall Lawsuit In California?
• Do I Need To Have A Witness To Win A California Slip & Fall Lawsuit?
• Can I Sue In California If I Have Fallen In A Stairway?

Nebraska lawmakers approved a settlement Friday to pay $1.5 million to an Ashland man permanently injured in an accident on Interstate 80 in October 2007. The victim, Tom Wolfe, 52, suffered a traumatic brain injury when a loose reflective pavement marker went through his vehicle and hit him in the forehead. A photograph of his work vehicle showed the rectangular hole in the windshield where the reflective marker went through and struck him in the head.

The pavement marker was one of about 53,000 installed on Nebraska highways since the early 1980's. An engineer for the Nebraska Department of Roads told the Omaha World-Herald Bureau that the agency had ceased using the reflective markers in new road projects prior to Tom Wolfe's accident. Since the accident, the Department of Roads spent about two years removing the markers, a project that cost the state more than $1 million. Other states, including Iowa, have removed their markers as well.

According to the Omaha World-Herald Bureau, the man injured was a master electrician before the accident, but has been unable to return to work, despite extensive therapy and rehabilitation. The settlement will cover his medical expenses and lost earnings due to his injury.

Continue reading "Nebraska To Pay $1.5 Million to Man Seriously Injured by Highway Pavement Marker" »

In the video below, our former client Matthew was kind enough to talk about about how the San Diego dog bite attorneys at Estey Bomberger helped him after he was bitten by a dog, and why he would recommend their services to others.

See some of our other personal injury attorney client testimonials:

• Car Accident Attorney Client Testimonial


• Motorcycle Accident Attorney Client Testimonial


• Motorcycle Injury Lawyer Client Testimonial


• Truck Accident Attorney Client Testimonial

At Estey Bomberger, our clients understand that after any accident that results in serious injury or the death of a loved one, it is important to take the necessary steps to protect your legal rights. If you are interested in a consultation with a San Diego personal injury lawyer at Estey Bomberger, call us anytime at (619)312-4399, or fill out our case review request form. All consultations are free with no obligation.

A Vista man was taken to Desert Regional Medical Center with "major injuries" following a solo vehicle accident Wednesday on Highway 62 in Morongo Valley, the California Highway Patrol reported. The crash occurred on westbound Highway 62 at Samel Road at about 5:40 p.m on March 24, 2010. According to the CHP, the driver, Moises Duran, 27, of Vista, drifted off the roadway and struck a power pole. According to a CHP spokesman, Duran was wearing a seat belt, was not speeding, and was not believed to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the crash. The CHP had not determined why Duran's vehicle drifted off the highway.

Please keep Moises in your prayers. We hope he makes a full and fast recovery and that his injuries are not life-threatening.

Based on the news reports of this San Bernardino County accident, it is not clear why the accident occurred. Did something malfunction with Moises's vehicle, or did something in the roadway cause Moises to swerve and lose control of his car? Or was Moises distracted by something? The facts of this Highway 62 accident leave more questions than answers. While the investigation is ongoing, Moises's family may benefit from consulting with a San Diego personal injury attorney who will perform an independent investigation into the cause of this major injury accident. If this accident is not the result of driver error and was caused by a defective automobile or a defect in the roadway, the victim may be entitled to compensation for his injuries, pain and suffering and other expenses related to the accident.

Nine people, ages ranging from 18 to 51, suffered minor to serious injuries Wednesday afternoon when a Mitsubishi Eclipse collided with a Metropolitan Transit System bus in City Heights, authorities reported. The accident happened at the intersection of 37th Street and University Avenue, at about 3:40 p.m., police reported. The red Mitsubishi apparently was heading south on 37th and ran a stop sign and struck the bus, which was headed east. The car spun out following the collision, and the driver attempted to flee the scene in his vehicle. The car, which had major damage, stalled out, and the driver fled on foot. Police found an open container of alcohol inside the vehicle.

We hope that everyone injured in this accident make a full recovery from their injuries, and that none of their injuries are catastrophic.

San Diego Bus Accident Lawyers

If news reports of this accident are accurate, the driver of the Eclipse caused this crash. The passengers injured in this March 24th City Heights bus accident would be well-advised to consult with a San Diego bus accident attorney about their rights to compensation from the transit authority. The attorneys at Estey Bomberger have successfully handled bus accident cases in southern California, and have recovered millions of dollars for bus accident victims. If you were injured in this accident and would like a consultation of your legal rights, contact Estey Bomberger at (619)312-4399. All consultations are free with no obligation.

Continue reading "Nine People Hurt in City Heights Bus Crash " »

A La Jolla man who suffered critical head injuries in a skateboarding accident last Saturday has died, NBC News reported today. The accident occurred at 3:14 p.m. Saturday on Moonlight Lane in La Jolla. According to reports in the La Jolla Light, 27-year-old Justin Tomerlin "was skateboarding without a helmet down a hill near his home when he fell and struck his head. Medics responded and transported him to Scripps La Jolla Hospital where he was diagnosed with a closed head injury." Tomerlin was placed on life support, but was declared brain dead on Monday, March 22. NBC News reported that a friend of Tomerlin's believed a wheel may have locked and led to the crash. Tomerlin was a former football player for Nebraska University, and worked for a healthcare information technologies firm in La Jolla.

Our sympathy goes out to everyone who knew and loved Justin Tomerlin. Please keep his family and friends in your prayers as they are grieving the loss of this young man.

Southern California Skateboarding Accidents

There have been several recent skateboarding accidents in Southern California. Last month, an 18-year-old boy suffered serious injuries when he was struck by a car while skateboarding on February 5, 2010 in Vista. A 15-year-old boy was struck and killed by a car while skateboarding in Vista on January 29th. Outside of San Diego County, a 12-year-old boy was struck and killed by a drunk driver in Hesperia on Sunday, January 10th, and a 20-year-old man was critically injured after being struck by a car in Temecula on December 14, 2009. An estimated 25,000 people nationwide are taken to hospital emergency rooms each year with injuries sustained in skateboarding accidents.

Who Was At Fault?

Based on the news reports of the accident, it is impossible to speculate whether Tomlin's accident was the result of a rider error, or defect in the skateboard itself. The family would be well-advised to keep the skateboard and contact a San Diego product liability attorney. If the wheel did in fact malfunction due to a defect in manufacturing, the family may consider filing a claim against the skateboard's manufacturer for wrongful death.

Continue reading "27-Year-Old La Jolla Man Dies of Injuries Sustained in Skateboarding Accident March 20 " »

The San Diego car accident lawyers at Estey Bomberger are experienced advocates offering the highest-quality legal representation for car accident victims in San Diego. After an accident resulting in serious injury, you need an advocate who can get you the maximum, full and fair money you deserve for your medical expenses, lost earnings and pain and suffering. In the video below, founding partners Stephen Estey and Mike Bomberger discuss the approach Estey Bomberger takes in handling auto accident litigation, and how we do everything possible to get our clients they justice they are entitled to.

At Estey Bomberger, our goal in every case is to help our clients maximize their recovery in their personal injury claim. Contact us today by calling (619) 312-4399. All attorney consultations are free and confidential, with no obligation.

Three people were taken to the hospital after a crash on northbound Interstate 15, authorities reported. The accident occurred shortly after 9 a.m. on Monday, March 22, near North Centre City Parkway, north of Escondido. According to reports by Cal Fire, the blue sedan rear-ended another vehicle on Interstate 15. The impact of the collision caused the vehicle to leave the roadway, where it rolled over and landed upside down about 100 feet away on Centre City Parkway. Two people were trapped inside the vehicle and had to be rescued by Deer Springs firefighters. One person was taken to Sharp, and two were taken to Palomar Medical Center in Escondido.

The extent of the victims' injuries was not known. We hope and pray everyone injured in this accident makes a full and speedy recovery, and that the victims' injuries are not life-threatening.

Based on the news reports of the San Diego Interstate 15 accident, the cause of the incident was not immediately clear. While the California Highway Patrol is investigating this crash, the victims injured would be well-advised to consult with an Interstate 15 accident attorney about their legal rights. If another driver's negligence caused the occupants' injuries, an attorney could help the victims obtain compensation for the accident. An attorney could also offer valuable information about the victims' legal rights, options and obligations, and how to handle communications with the insurance adjustor following a San Diego county car accident resulting in serious injury.

Continue reading "Three People Hurt After Vehicle Rollover on Interstate 15 " »

A man who was airlifted to Scripps Memorial Hospital following a motorcycle accident on SR 76 has died, the San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office has reported. The motorcycle accident happened on Thursday March 18th at 4:59 p.m. on eastbound State Route 76. According to reports, the motorcyclist, a 52-year-old Fallbrook resident, was forced to stop suddenly in heavy traffic on the 76, near Jeffries Ranch Road. He was ejected from his Harley Davidson and suffered severe head trauma in the crash. He was airlifted to the La Jolla hospital where he remained on life support until his death on Friday, March 19th.

Our hearts go out to the man killed in this accident. Please keep his family and friends in your prayers as they are grieving this sudden and unexpected loss.

The cause of the accident remains under investigation. Hopefully the investigation by law enforcement will yield answers as to why the crash occurred. The Medical Examiner's Office said the victim applied his rear brake, which caused him to lose control and be ejected from the bike. It is not know if the motorcyclist was travelling too fast for traffic conditions, or if the brakes failed and did not work properly.

Who Was At Fault?

The family of the man killed in this devastating accident may benefit from a consultation with a San Diego motorcycle accident lawyer about the cause of this crash and who was responsible. If mechanical malfunction of the brakes or some other part on the Harley Davidson caused this accident, the family may be entitled to damages for their loss from the manufacturer of the bike. A wrongful death attorney can review these issues further, examine the police report, have the bike inspected, and advise the family and help them protect their legal rights.

Two marines hurt in a rollover crash near the Miramar Marine Corps Air Station have died of their injuries, the San Diego Medical Examiner's reported this weekend. The men, who have not been identified, were travelling west on Carroll Canyon Road near Camino Ruiz in a yellow Mazda, when they came to the end of the roadway. The car continued through the guardrail and rolled over. The accident occurred at about 10:30 p.m. Thursday.

Both the driver and his passenger were wearing their seat belts and had to be extricated from the vehicle. The passenger, a 21-year-old Active Duty Marine, assigned to MWCS-38, stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, died at Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla about an hour after the accident. The driver, a 19-year-old active duty Marine Lance Corporal also assigned to MWCS-38, died Friday evening at Scripps Memorial Hospital.

Cause of the Crash

The San Diego Police Department is still investigating this fatal Mira Mesa crash. It is unknown if alcohol or speeding was a factor in the accident, or if a defect in the roadway caused the incident. Police will try to determine what occurred in the seconds leading up to the accident before the vehicle went off the road. Was there proper signage to alert the driver of the dead-end, and was the guardrail properly illuminated? The city maintaining a roadway has a responsibility to keep a roadway in safe condition. If this roadway departure accident was not the fault of the driver but due to a defect in the roadway, the family has legal rights.

Wrongful Death & Liability Issues

The families of both men killed in this accident would be advised to speak with a San Diego wrongful death lawyer as soon as possible. If a broken or defective guardrail or inadequate road reflectors caused this crash, the families of both victims may consider filing a wrongful death claim against the agency responsible for maintaining the roadway. An attorney can review the police report, have the vehicle inspected, and hire an independent investigator to determine the cause of the crash.

A man was very seriously injured when he was run over by an elderly driver in a Costco parking lot Sunday afternoon, police reported. The accident happened just after 3 p.m. at the Costco store located at 4605 Morena Blvd. in Rose Canyon. The victim, a 40-year-old man who was not identified, was loading plants into his car when an elderly driver in a Cadillac Coupe de Ville struck him and ran him over. The 86-year-old driver of the Cadillac had pulled into a handicapped parking lot, and put his car into reverse to reposition it. Police believe the elderly man then stepped on the gas pedal instead of the brake, and struck the victim.

The driver of the Cadillac also struck two parked vehicles, and then drove through a fence and hit the side of the Costco store. The man hit by the Cadillac suffered serious internal injuries, a broken pelvis and punctured lung. He was rushed to the hospital. His two children, who were both inside the car eating pizza, were ejected through the open windows of the vehicle. They are both expected to survive. The 86-year-old driver of the Cadillac was not cited but authorities did take away his driver's license, pending review by the DMV.

Elderly Driving Accidents

According to the DMV, there are nearly three million drivers in California who are 65 years of age or older. Accidents, like this one yesterday, where elderly drivers confuse the gas pedal with the brake pedal are relatively common among elderly drivers. Medical conditions such as dementia, Parkinson's Disease, Alzheimer's, poor vision, arthritis, loss of sensation due to Diabetes, and even prescription medications can contribute to serious accidents resulting in catastrophic injury or death caused by elderly drivers.

San Diego Elderly Driving Incidents

Sadly, this is not the first incident involving serious injury in recent months due to pedal misapplication. In April 2009, a 59-year-old man was killed after an 86-year-old woman drove into a dentist's office in Tierrasanta. Last February, an 87-year-old woman drove into a Jamba Juice in Clairemont. No one was injured in that accident. Earlier this month, a 92-year-old woman lost control of her vehicle and slammed into a house in La Playa. The driver and her elderly passenger were both hurt.

Liability Issues

Although the incident is still under investigation by law enforcement, this tragic pedestrian accident unfortunately seems to be caused by the elderly driver. The family of the man injured in this most recent accident would be well-advised to talk to an experienced San Diego personal injury attorney as soon as possible. An attorney can help the victims' family protect their rights and recover damages for their serious injuries, loss of earnings, emotional pain and suffering, and other accident related expenses.

A woman in West Boca Raton, Florida has settled a wrongful death lawsuit against crib manufacturer Simplicity, Inc., the makers of a drop-side crib in which the woman's daughter suffocated to death, and Walmart.

The amount of the settlement was not disclosed. The lawsuit was filed last September in Palm Beach County. The case had been set to go to jury trial, but Bergey's attorney filed a motion requesting the judge approve a settlement. The judge approved the agreement March 3, but the order did not detail the terms of the settlement.

Constance Bergey's 2-year-old daughter Serenity was found dead in her crib on September 19, 2007. Her head had become caught between a drop rail and the crib's mattresses. Two days following the 2-year-old's death, the United States Consumer Products Safety Commission announced a recall of nearly 1 million cribs.

According to reports in the Sun-Sentinel, the crib had not been assembled correctly, and was broken and held together with duct tape at the time of the child's death. In 2008, detectives had sought aggravated manslaughter charges against the toddler's mother, but prosecutors did not take the case.

According to a CPSC spokeswoman, Simplicty and the company that purchased Simplicity's assets have gone out of business. That does not change the fact that ALL Simplicity drop side cribs have been recalled, in addition to numerous other drop side cribs made by other manufacturers. To find out if your child's crib has been recalled, visit cpsc.gov. If your child has been injured or killed by a dangerous drop-side crib, contact the dangerous products lawyers at Estey Bomberger for more information and a free consultation.

Three people, including a 12-month-old boy, were injured Friday afternoon in a head-on crash on Highway 67, the CHP reported. The SR-67 crash occurred in the Poway area, south of Scripps Poway Parkway, shortly before 2 p.m. According to CHP reports of the accident, the accident involved a silver Chevrolet Impala and a red Toyota Yaris. The Impala was travelling north, and the Yaris was travelling south, and authorities believe the Impala drifted into southbound traffic, causing the collision. The driver of the Toyota Yaris reportedly suffered a broken leg in the incident, and was taken to a local hospital by ambulance. A CHP officer told 10 News that the driver of the Chevy, who suffered moderate injuries in the crash, appeared to show signs of being under the influence. His infant son, who was wearing a seatbelt in the backseat, suffered moderate injuries.

Accidents This Year on Highway 67

Highway 67 is arguably one of the most dangerous highways in San Diego County, and there have already been several fatalities on the highway this year. A Valley Center man died in an SUV rollover accident on Highway 67 on February 21st, and a Ramona woman died in a head-on Highway 67 Crash in Lakeside on January 26th. Thankfully, no one died in this accident and hopefully everyone injured in this collision will make a full and speedy recovery.

Liability Issues

The cause of this March 12th Highway 67 accident remains under investigation, and the CHP will determine what caused the crash and why. If the reports are accurate and the driver of the Chevy is at fault for this crash, the driver of the Toyota should contact an experienced San Diego personal injury attorney about their legal rights following this accident. An attorney can help hold the negligent driver accountable for causing the accident and recover monetary compensation for the victim's injuries. If the driver of the Chevy was under the influence of alcohol, he could also face criminal charges for his reckless actions.

Continue reading "Three People Injured March 12th in Head-on Collision on Highway 67 " »

The Associated Press reported this week that the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is preparing to issue a general warning to the public about the dangers of baby slings. Bag-style baby slings have gained popularity among parents after experts have said holding a baby in a sling fosters close physical contact and a strong bond between parent and child. One pediatrician and parenting expert even said that holding a baby in a sling "make[s] babies smarter, calmer, more attentive, less colicky and more likely to develop healthy sleep habits than their counterparts in strollers."

But the head of the CPSC said the time has come to warn the public about the possibly fatal dangers of bag-style slings because the agency knows of too many deaths caused by the slings. The soft fabric baby slings pose dangers of both possible suffocation and falling out of the sling. In 2008 Consumer Reports reported the slings had caused at least two dozen serious injuries and at least seven deaths. Because infants have little head or neck control, their head can become smothered against the mother's chest or belly, posing a possible suffocation risk, or the baby's head can flop forward, pressing the chin against the chest, which can block the baby's own airway.

None of the infant slings have yet been recalled for any suffocation risk, but some manufacturers and retailers are now advising parents not to use them. About a dozen different slings have been recalled in the past decade for concerns about infants falling out of the slings because of defects or issues with fasteners, stitching or shoulder straps. Several product liability lawsuits have already been filed by parents whose infants died or were injured due suffocation in bag-type carriers. Two infants died in 2009 in the Infantino SlingRider carriers. One wrongful death lawsuit was filed against a baby sling manufacturer by the parents of a baby who died on a shopping trip to an Oregon Costco in 2009. The parents thought the baby had been sleeping peacefully, only to find the baby had suffocated to death in the sling.

Continue reading "CPSC Preparing Warning to Public About Dangers of Baby Slings " »

Several brave California Highway Patrol officers helped stop a runaway Toyota Prius in El Cajon this afternoon, the Union Tribune reported. The car reportedly had a stuck accelerator, and was travelling as fast as 94 mph when the driver called 911. Using a loudspeaker, CHP officers relayed instructions to the driver on how to pull the emergency brake and regular brakes simultaneously to slow the Prius. Once the car had slowed to about 50 mph, the driver was able to turn off the engine and the car coasted to a stop near Kitchen Creek Road.

The incident began on eastbound Interstate 8 near the Flinn Springs area. After it was safely brought to a halt, the car was then towed to the CHP's office in El Cajon, where it will likely be inspected.

According to a 10News report, Toyota issued the following statement regarding the incident: "This afternoon (Monday, March 8), Toyota learned of a report that a California Highway Patrol (CHP) unit was dispatched in response to a 911 call from a motorist driving a Prius on Interstate 8 in San Diego County who said the accelerator pedal was stuck. The report states that the CHP unit slowed in front of the vehicle and acted as a brake to bring it to a stop. Toyota has dispatched a field technical specialist to San Diego to investigate the report and offer assistance."

While this story fortunately had a happy ending and the driver was not injured, hundreds of other people experiencing problems with stuck accelerators have not been so lucky. Last week, the New York Post reported as many as 52 deaths have been linked to faulty accelerators. The number of deaths is nearly double the number of people who died due to faulty Ford Pintos in the 1970's. Hundreds more have been seriously injured in accidents caused by out-of-control Toyotas.

If you have been injured or if a family member was killed in an accident involving a stuck accelerator in a Toyota or Lexus, contact the California Toyota defect attorneys at Estey Bomberger for a free consultation of your legal rights.

Continue reading "CHP Helps Stop Runaway Toyota Prius on Interstate 8" »

In California, the law allows attorneys to handle accident and injury cases on a contingency fee basis. This means that legal fees are paid as a percentage of your settlement or verdict, and not at an hourly rate. If you don't win your case, you generally are not obligated to pay anything. All of the terms determined and agreed upon in writing in the contingency fee agreement, which is signed before the attorney begins working on a case. In the video below, founding partner Stephen Estey answers the common question, "How can I afford an attorney in California after a car accident?"

At Estey & Bomberger, we advance all costs associated with preparing the case and if a verdict or settlement is not obtained, the client is not responsible for costs associated with the case. If you have been hurt in a car crash, contact the San Diego car accident attorneys at Estey & Bomberger for a free and in-depth consultation of your legal rights.

If you have been bitten by a dog in California, you may be wondering who is responsible for the attack and what are your legal rights? The personal injury attorneys at Estey & Bomberger have recovered millions for victims of dog bite maulings and attacks. In the video below, founding partner Mike Bomberger addresses the common question of who is at fault in a dog bite attack. If you or your child have suffered serious injury in a dog attack, contact the San Diego dog bite attorneys at Estey & Bomberger for a free consultation of your legal rights.

Two San Diego County residents died Tuesday, March 2, in separate solo vehicle accidents, the San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office reported. The first accident occurred shortly after 11:30 a.m. on Interstate 15, and the seond accident occurred shortly after 7 p.m. on Highland Valley Road in Rancho Bernardo, near Lake Hodges.

In the Interstate 15 accident, David Irving Epstein, 87, of Coronado, was driving his Toyota Camry on northbound Interstate 15 near the Ocean View exit, when he lost control of his vehicle and collided with a parked semi-truck. Epstein died at the scene of the crash. The CHP will investigate whether the driver suffered a medical condition, or if something else caused this accident. It is possible that Camry had something malfunction mechanically. More than eight million Toyota vehicles have been recalled in recent months for stuck accelerator and sudden acceleration problems.

In the Rancho Bernardo accident, Justin Jarrard Strathdee, 24, of Escondido, was found in his vehicle following a collision on Highland Valley Road. A passerby discovered the accident scene and called 911. The vehicle left the road and landed on its roof, the North County Times reported. Strathdee was found dead by responding emergency medical personnel. The San Diego Police Department is investigating the cause of the crash.

Continue reading "Two San Diego County Residents Die in Separate Solo Vehicle Accidents " »