Sanger, CA (February 25, 2025) – On Tuesday evening, two 17-year-olds—a boy and a girl—were struck by a vehicle while crossing the road at Bethel and Almond Avenues. Both were taken to a local hospital, where the boy succumbed to his injuries. Authorities are investigating the incident to determine the circumstances surrounding the collision.
As a personal injury attorney, I find several aspects in this case that raise legal concern. In my experience, a single report doesn’t always cover everything. That’s why it’s important to thoroughly investigate to figure out if a driver may have been negligent.
Why Didn’t the Driver Yield to the Pedestrians?
One key question is whether the driver properly yielded to the teenagers as they crossed the street. Drivers are required to slow down and stop for pedestrians in designated areas, and failing to do so can lead to serious collisions. To answer this question, investigators may review traffic camera footage, witness statements, and vehicle positioning to determine whether the driver had enough time to stop and whether they were following traffic laws.
Was the Driver Distracted at the Time of the Collision?
Distracted driving is a huge problem in California, and if it’s proven that the driver was distracted at the time of the collision, it could help the victims’ families file a claim. Investigators can look into surveillance footage or witness statements, though these accounts would likely be cross-referenced with phone records to see if the driver was texting or on a call at the time of the collision. If so, the victims may be able to file a negligence claim.
Legal Considerations
Negligence is a big factor in car accident cases. It means that a driver can be held responsible for injuries if they didn’t act responsibly and their actions caused a crash. To prove negligence, we need to establish four key things.
First, the other driver had a duty of care—every driver is expected to follow traffic laws and operate their vehicle safely. Second, they breached that duty by doing something careless, like speeding, running a red light, or driving distracted. Third, that reckless action must have directly caused the accident—it’s not just about bad driving, but bad driving that led to injuries. Finally, a victim needs to show real damages, whether that’s medical bills, lost wages, or the pain and suffering they’ve experienced.
Establishing the events leading up to this accident is crucial to telling the entire story. In my experience, reports don’t always give the full scope of an accident until investigators analyze driver behavior, surveillance footage, and eyewitness reports. This thorough approach helps identify contributing factors without assigning blame prematurely.
My thoughts are with the families affected by this incident.
Source: ABC30