Pasadena, CA (December 30, 2024) – On Sunday, December 29, 2024, at approximately 3:10 a.m., a fatal wrong-way crash occurred on the westbound 210 Freeway near Allen Avenue in Pasadena.
Accident Details: Jeffrey Mejia Rodriguez, a 22-year-old Los Angeles resident, was driving a 2015 Chevrolet Camaro eastbound in the westbound HOV lane. The Camaro collided head-on with a 2021 Ford F-150 pickup truck. Rodriguez succumbed to blunt force trauma at the scene. The driver of the pickup truck, a Burbank resident, suffered a potential wrist fracture and was hospitalized. The passenger, a 50-year-old Burbank woman, reported neck and back pain. Both individuals were transported for medical care.
Legal Considerations: As a personal injury attorney, I find that several aspects of this case warrant further examination. Driving the wrong way on a freeway demonstrates a lapse in the duty of care required of motorists. If Rodriguez is found negligent, his estate may bear responsibility for the damages caused. Further investigation may also explore whether inadequate signage, road design, or a mechanical malfunction of the Camaro contributed to Rodriguez entering the wrong lane.
The injured victims may be able to pursue personal injury claims to address their medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. If the investigation finds that other factors contributed to Rodriguez driving in the wrong lane, such as mechanical malfunctions or inadequate road conditions, his family may be able to file a wrongful death claim. However, according to California’s comparative negligence laws, recoverable compensation would be reduced by his share of the fault.
My thoughts are with the injured individuals as they recover and with the loved ones of Jeffrey Mejia Rodriguez as they mourn his loss.
Source: 2 Urban Girls