Shingletown, CA (August 9, 2024) – On Friday night, August 9, 2024, a tragic head-on collision occurred on Highway 44, west of Ally Gold Way in Shingletown. The crash involved two vehicles and resulted in the death of Alexander Miller Zagarino, 31, from Oakland.
Accident Details and Investigation: According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), Zagarino was driving a Nissan Frontier westbound on SR-44 when he crossed the double yellow lines, colliding with an eastbound GMC Sierra truck. Zagarino was pronounced dead at the scene by medics and traffic officers. The GMC Sierra occupants, 43-year-old Thomas Stewart and 38-year-old Jennifer Stewart, sustained minor and major injuries. Both Stewarts were transported to Mercy Medical Center for treatment. Preliminary reports suggest that alcohol may have played a role in the collision.
Legal Considerations: As a personal injury attorney, I find that critical investigative steps in cases like this include assessing driver impairment, reviewing vehicle conditions, and analyzing the crash scene. Understanding how these factors contributed to the accident is essential for determining liability and ensuring justice for those affected.
In this case, Zagarino’s family may have grounds to file a wrongful death claim if they can establish that someone else’s negligence caused the accident. Even if Zagarino was impaired at the time of the collision, his family might still be able to file a wrongful death claim if another party was also found to be at fault. This doctrine is called comparative negligence. Comparative negligence allows for the allocation of fault between parties involved in an accident.
I offer my sincerest condolences to the family and friends of Alexander Miller Zagarino during this heartbreaking time.
Source: KRCR TV