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Bicyclist is Struck by a Car in Sacramento

On Sunday evening, February 7 a bicyclist was struck by a car in Sacramento and died.

According to authorities, the accident happened at around 6.40 p.m. when 41 year old George Thomas of Sacramento was riding his bicycle on Auburn Boulevard near Watt Avenue. He was hit by a car in the 3200 block of Auburn Boulevard and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Details of the car and the driver are not known at this time, but the driver did stay at the scene and cooperated with the officials.

The westbound lanes of Auburn Boulevard were closed Sunday evening as Sacramento police investigated the crash.

The investigation is ongoing but it determined that neither drugs nor alcohol were involved in the crash.

So far no citations have been issued.

If you have been injured in an accident, the Sacramento accident attorneys of Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger are here to help. Please, call us today at (415) 906-3764 or contact us online to schedule your free consultation.

The Right Clothing for Riding Motorcycles

Motorcycles make up one percent of the vehicles on the road but account for ten percent of the fatalities. If you ride a motorcycle you need to take special care to stay safe and that includes your clothing.

It is vital to wear the correct clothing as if you get thrown off the bike and your skin is not protected, the road surface can cause severe injuries from scrapes and scratches to compound fractures and major flesh wounds. If you wear the proper clothing many types of injury can be avoided.

You should wear solid special motorcycle boots. Hands should be protected with thick gloves and you should cover your body from head to foot with special protective motorcycle clothing. If you can, try and obtain clothing with armor built into the fabric for additional protection.

The most important part of your clothing should be a helmet as it cannot be denied that they save lives. The helmet should be DOT approved and full face with a chin guard. It should also fit properly to give the maximum protection.

If you have been injured in an accident, the Sacramento accident attorneys of Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger are here to help. Please, call us today at (415) 906-3764 or contact us online to schedule your free consultation.

Two Men Die and a Woman Injured in Two Vehicle Collision

On Thursday afternoon, December 3, two men from Rio Vista were killed and a woman injured in a two vehicle collision in Solano County.

According to the California Highway Patrol, the accident happened around 1.15 p.m. on Highway 12 near Interstate 113. A Ford Thunderbird, being driven by a 75 year old male, was traveling east on Highway 12 when it spun out of control and went into the westbound lane of Highway 12. As it entered the westbound lane it was slammed into on the right passenger side by a Chrysler Pacifica, being driven by a 69 year old male, which was heading west.

The driver of the Thunderbird was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead and the driver of the Pacifica was taken to a different hospital and he too died. A 69 year old female passenger in the Pacifica who was from Rio Vista was taken to hospital with serious injuries.

The cause of the accident is still under investigation.

If you have been injured in an accident, the Sacramento accident attorneys of Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger are here to help. Please, call us today at (415) 906-3764 or contact us online to schedule your free consultation.

Know The Warning Signs Of Unsafe Driving

As you become older you will become more aware of warning signs that your driving is becoming worse. You may notice you cannot see as well, or hear as well or that it is becoming more difficult to move the steering wheel. You may also notice that your concentration is not a good as it used to be or that you are having more near miss accidents.

If your eyesight is becoming worse you may find that it is harder to see at night or that your peripheral vision is deteriorating. Check that you can still see road signs and traffic lights clearly, and if not, visit your optician to check your prescription.

However, there may be some situations which arise which make you realize that perhaps you should no longer be driving. If you find your reactions to braking are slower, or that you confuse the gas or the brake pedals. If you find yourself getting lost or drifting out of your lane as you lose concentration. If you almost crash several times or misjudge parking and scrape the car.

If any of these happen, or if friends or relatives say that they do not feel safe driving with you, then it may be time to call it a day and stop driving before you harm yourself or other road users.

If you have been injured in an accident, the Sacramento accident attorneys of Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger are here to help. Please, call us today at (415) 906-3764 or contact us online to schedule your free consultation.

Knights Landing woman Killed in Motorcycle Crash

On Saturday, October 10, a Knights Landing woman was killed in a motorcycle crash.

According to the California Highway Patrol the accident happened on Highway 113 at Locust Street in Knights Landing near Ninth Street in the unincorporated community in Yolo County.

Caryn Dayle Hood, aged 49 was riding her purple 2006 Harley-Davidson southbound when she drifted into the opposite lane and was hit head on by a 2003 Acura MDZ being driven by 37 year old Roberto Jose Perez of Oakland. Perez was uninjured but Hood suffered fatal injuries.

Hood’s boyfriend was on his motorcycle next to her and said they were not speeding but she suddenly seemed to be in a daze when she drifted out of her lane and narrowly avoided one vehicle before being hit. He said that he was screaming at her but she did not seem to notice. Hood’s mother said that she had been with family members shortly before the accident and at that time was fine but that shortly before leaving she had been stung by a bee which could have caused an adverse reaction.

The accident is still under investigation.

If you have been injured in an accident, the Sacramento accident attorneys of Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger are here to help. Please, call us today at (415) 906-3764 or contact us online to schedule your free consultation.

Man from Sacramento Died in Crash in Nevada

Early afternoon on Sunday, September 13, a man from Sacramento died on the I 80 in northeast Nevada, when his sedan collided with a semi truck.

According to the Nevada Highway Patrol the accident happened shortly after noon when a semi truck being driven by 65 year old James Apgar of Iona, Idaho, was travelling west on the I 80 and was in the slow lane near the top of Emigrant Summit. A Chevrolet Impala, which was being driven by 62 year old Frederick Brooks was behind the semi truck traveling in the same direction, when for reasons as yet unknown he did not go around the semi but instead ran straight into the rear of the trailer without breaking.

Brooks was not wearing a seat belt and he died at the scene. Apgar, who was wearing a seat belt was uninjured.

Investigators have not been able to determine why Brooks did not try to pass the truck and why he did not even attempt to brake.

If you have been injured in an auto accident, the Sacramento accident attorneys of Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger are here to help. Please, call us today at (415) 906-3764 or contact us online to schedule your free consultation.

A Motorcycle Accident Left Two People Dead

On Wednesday night, August 12, a motorcycle accident left two people dead.

According to California Highway Patrol, the accident happened at around 9.30 p.m. on Highway 99 in Sutter County. A man was driving a Harley Davidson north with a female passenger on the back. The motorcycle was on the highway, near Howsley Road in the Pleasant Grove area when it veered into the path of a Dodge Ram in the adjacent lane.

The driver and passenger of the motorcycle were ejected and the motorcycle was then hit by a Toyota sedan, being driven by a woman, which then overturned and landed on its roof. A Ford was then involved as it collided with the debris on the roadway.

The motorcyclist and his passenger were both pronounced dead at the scene, and two other people were taken to the hospital, but the extent of their injuries is unclear.

An investigation is ongoing but according to authorities there have been a lot of fatalities on the same stretch of road during the year.

If you have been injured in an auto accident, the Sacramento accident attorneys of Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger are here to help. Please, call us today at (415) 906-3764 or contact us online to schedule your free consultation.

Afghan Refugee Killed in an Accident

A man who worked with the U.S. Army in Afghanistan was killed in an accident only 20 days after he arrived in Sacramento.

Mustafa Rafi fled together with his family to Sacramento as the Taliban threatened him and his family due to his involvement with the U.S. forces in Afghanistan.

He arrived in the United States on June 24 and on July 14 was cycling with his 8 year old young son, Omar to the 99 Cent Store to buy a bicycle for his other son, Imran.

According to the California Highway Patrol 25 year old Desmen Lashonne Carrino, of Sacramento, was looking down at his cell phone, possibly texting, while driving a 1999 Pontiac Grand Prix and he drifted into the bike lane, killing Mustafa and critically injuring Omar.

Carrino is still under investigation but has not yet been charged.

He leaves behind his 35 year old wife Malalai Rafi and three other children, 13 year old Mariam, 8 year old Saleha and 6 year old Imran. Omar is said still to be in critical condition.

If you have been injured in an auto accident, the Sacramento accident attorneys of Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger are here to help. Please, call us today at (415) 906-3764 or contact us online to schedule your free consultation.

Nine Vehicles Involved in Major Crash

On Tuesday, June 16, nine vehicles were involved in a major crash on Interstate 80.

According to California Highway Patrol, the accident happened at around 10.30 on the Interstate near Reed Avenue in West Sacramento.

A big rig, being driven westbound by 63 year old San Francisco resident Christopher Ayala at around 55 mph, failed to slow for the traffic and smashed into the eight vehicles ahead of him. It was not known why he did not slow but police say he was not under the influence of either drugs or alcohol.

Ayala collided with the first vehicle and then carried on hitting another seven before veering across the lanes and onto the dirt and grass at the side of the road. The rig traveled off road for around a quarter of a mile before stopping.

In total there were 12 people in the vehicles he hit. They ranged in age from 12 to 63 and most complained of pain. Several people were injured, with 53 year old Eric Melbt of West Sacramento suffering from broken ribs, a broken arm and head lacerations. Four people had minor injuries which required hospital treatment and the rest walked away from the crash uninjured.

Westbound traffic on I 80 was closed for four hours.

If you have been injured in an auto accident, the Sacramento accident attorneys of Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger are here to help. Please, call us today at (415) 906-3764 or contact us online to schedule your free consultation.

Two People were Killed in a Vehicle Crash

On Sunday night, May 17, two people were killed in a vehicle crash on Highway 50.

According to California Highway Patrol, the accident happened just before midnight on eastbound Highway 50 just east of Interstate 5. Sixty one year old Marvin Dale Walker driving a KIA Sorrento collided with a Chevrolet Silverado being driven by 50 year old Ba Dai Le.

Walker died at the scene and Le was taken to hospital where he died around 6 in the morning.

A third car, whose driver was uninjured, was also seen to have crashed at the scene, but police do not yet know if that car was involved in the collision.

Officers do not know exactly what happened, and are unsure if it was a wrong way crash or not. In addition they are still investigating whether drugs and alcohol were factors in the crash.

So far this year there have been four wrong way crashes in the Sacramento region which resulted in fatalities.

If you have been injured in an auto accident, the Sacramento accident attorneys of Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger are here to help. Please, call us today at (415) 906-3764 or contact us online to schedule your free consultation.