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[Long Beach, CA] – Kaylee Perez Dies in Wrong-Way Crash on 405 Freeway Long Beach
Wrong-Way Crash Killed Kaylee Perez and One Other
November 1, 2020 – Kaylee Perez, age 23, was killed on Saturday morning around 10:30 A.M.
Also, one other driver was killed due to a wrong-way crash on the 405 Freeway.
First, the California Highway Patrol was alerted on Saturday morning to an accident in Orange County.
In addition, the accident involved a Nissan that had been traveling northward in the southbound HOV lane of the 405 Freeway.
As a result, emergency workers arrived at the scene.
Afterwards, the vehicle had already crashed head-on with another vehicle heading southbound in the HOV lane.
Unfortunately, officials pronounced both Perez and the driver of the vehicle she struck dead on arrival.
Also, there was a passenger in Perez’s car.
Additionally, Manasseh Marion, 32, of Long Beach was Perez’s passenger at the time of the crash.
Meanwhile, due to poor visibility, eight more cars were involved in the pile-up. Sadly, they did not see the accident in time to stop.
Heroically, rescue workers were able to transport seven people to nearby hospitals.
Also, two of the victims were trauma patients and five of them were treated for minor injuries.
Later, rescue officials blocked the northbound lanes of the freeway at Palo Verde Avenue.
Similarly, traffic was detoured from the freeway at Studebaker Road.
Wrong-Way Accidents: Why Do They Happen?
According to the Federal Highway Administration (FHA), wrong-way accidents make up between 300-400 roadway fatalities every year.
Also, wrong way driving has been defined as “a driver who runs their vehicle in the opposite direction of travel on a highway or freeway, then collides with a vehicle traveling in the correct direction.”
Mostly, wrong-way accidents are uncommon. Moreover, they only make up about 3% of all motor vehicle accidents.
In addition, they are the leading type of motor vehicle crash to result in a fatality.
On average, about 360 deaths in the U.S. each year are caused by wrong way driving accidents.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), reports that the wrong way collision death rate is projected to fall between 12 and 27% higher than all other types of collisions.
Moreover, that is why they have been proven to be among the most dangerous types of accidents.
Wrong way driving collisions will most often end up in head-on collisions. Grievously, they do not tend to leave motorists and passengers unscathed.
Instead, if the accident does not lead to death, the injuries drivers sustain are often extremely severe.
In addition, they usually entail long-term residual effects that require surgery and rehabilitation.
Common injuries from wrong way driving collisions include:
- broken bones
- extremity injuries
- whiplash
- head injuries
- spinal cord injuries
- chest, abdomen, and rib injuries
- brain injuries
- as well as paralysis
WHAT CAN CAUSE A WRONG-WAY ACCIDENT?
Driver error is the most common cause of accidents.
Moreover, most of these incidents are due to drivers entering a highway exit ramp, rather than entrance ramps.
The most common causes of wrong-way accidents are:
- Drivers under the influence of drugs, alcohol, or medications
- Distracted driving
- Drivers unfamiliar with the roadways in that area
- Poorly marked ramps
- Poorly placed signs
- Poor ramp design
- Lack of signs
- Lack of visibility
- Drowsy or tired drivers
- Drivers suffering from mental health problems
Notably, out of these listed reasons for drivers’ error, the #1 cause is intoxication from drugs or alcohol.
Additionally, 50-75% of all wrong way driving incidents involve an intoxicated driver.
Not surprisingly, most of these accidents tend to occur on weekends and in the late hours of the night between midnight and 3 A.M.
HOW ENTRANCE RAMP DESIGNS CAN BE CONFUSING
The cloverleaf and partial cloverleaf designs are confusing to some drivers. Particularly, to those who are not completely alert.
Unfortunately, in their confusion, some drivers wind up going into the wrong ramp on the wrong side.
Moreover, this style of ramp can cause confusion because the entrance and exit ramps are both parallel.
As a result, confused drivers could easily end up on the wrong side of the median, on the wrong ramp.
Drivers turning left to get into a freeway are more likely to get into the wrong ramp compared to drivers turning right to enter.
That is because drivers turn right come to the right ramp first before the wrong ramp.
So, they usually take the correct turn rather than passing it, ending up entering an exit ramp.
Typically, most drivers realize right away when they turn the wrong way and turn around or back up.
Still, there are drivers, including sober ones, who will not realize the mistake right away.
At least, not until they are formally traveling on the freeway among other vehicles heading directly toward them.
AVOID WRONG-WAY DRIVERS
To avoid wrong-way drivers, look beyond the first few cars ahead of you and scan the entire roadway width.
The further ahead and around you can see, the better prepared you will be.
If you see the hazard approaching, then you have time to react and take evasive action to avoid a collision.
However, when drivers travel directly toward each other on a highway, there is often little a driver can do to avoid the collision since the wrong way driver is unexpected.
Not to mention, combining the element of surprise with the high rate of speed on highways, and an accident is almost inevitable.
There are a couple of strategies that you can keep in mind while traveling that could save you from being a victim of these terrible tragedies.
For instance, always travel in the right lane if possible.
Traveling in the correct lane is the safest bet to avoid an oncoming wrong-way driver.
The wrong way driver may be confused and assume the right is slowest.
However, in the opposite direction, the wrong way driver’s right is the left lane, also known as the fast lane.
To the family and friends of Kaylee Perez, we cannot begin to imagine what you are going through, and our sincerest condolences go out to you.
Salkow Law are true advocates that will work with you directly to achieve justice. Insurance companies want to pay as little compensation as they can. They will even try to make your case go away completely. We will fight for you so that does not happen.
Unlike, the law firms you see plastered on billboards and buses, at Salkow Law you will receive a level of personal service long forgotten at the ‘big’ firms. With us you will not be a faceless, nameless case file. We’ll answer any questions you have and make sure you have a full understanding of how the process works.
This is especially true for families that have lost a loved one in an accident. We won’t stop until we’ve gotten you fair compensation to alleviate the financial toll that unexpected devastation brings.
Call us for a free consultation at (310) 914 – 8484
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