2008 December Archive

The sanluisobispo.com website reported on November 9, 2008 that Michael Knodel, 24 from the town of Chowchilla was killed in an ATV accident while he was riding in the Oceano Dunes.  Knodel was struck as he was riding his all-terrain vehicle by a truck according to the supervising park ranger.  It appears that this is a case of being at the wrong place at the wrong time.  As Knodel was heading east he was cresting a steep dune; when at that precise moment Robert Peterson, 22 was behind the wheel of the truck heading west colliding with Knodel just as he reached the summit of the dune.

When the first aid responders arrived they found Knodel unresponsive.  Knodel was ultimately pronounced dead at the scene by a nurse who was flown in according to supervising ranger Mike Lack.  The crash occurred at 1:30 p.m.. Knodel’s ATV was equipped with a “whip” antenna with a bright flag, a measure that was supposed to indicate his approach.

Peterson had no trace of alcohol use and was riding with two passengers but no one was hurt inside the truck. He was not cited by the police.

“If either one had been four seconds ahead or four seconds behind, they probably would not have collided,” Ranger  Lack said. “All reports we got was that it was just an unfortunate accident.”  This is the second death on the dunes this year, there were four last year.  The Oceano Dunes are the only ones in California that permit off-road vehicles.

What was probably billed as a day of fun with friends and family turned into a tragic and sad day.  It is hard to say whether or not this fatal ATV accident could have been prevented.  An experienced ATV accident attorney might be able to re-create the specifics of the incident and help offer some sort of explanation for what has happened here. The wrongful death attorneys in Los Angeles at Panish, Shea, & Boyle specialize in dealing with tragic incidents such as this one. We know the questions to ask, and have the resources to investigate matters to a conclusion. If you or someone you love has been injured in a tragic accident, contact our offices at 1-866-992-1700 today for a free consultation of your case.

The Los Angeles Times reported on November 10, 2008 that I-40 proved to once again be the scene of a fatal car pileup.  The crash involved at least 11 vehicles including semi trucks.  The cars were traveling near Newberry Springs heading eastbound on the I-40 in the Mojave desert just 23 miles east of Barstow at 8:30 a.m.  The pile up left four people dead according to the California Highway Patrol.

The auto and truck accident crash scene was still being investigated but the CHP investigators said that a high wind advisory was in effect when the accident took place.  The CHP also said that one of the cars ended up on top of a truck.  It was not clear if this was due to the force of the winds or the force of the actual collisions.

The victims identities were not released and two of the injured were flown by helicopter to Arrowhead regional medical center in the town of Colton.  Their condition was not known.  Car accidents take place everyday all around us.  We must make sure we all take measures in order to prepare ourselves for driving on our highways, including planning ahead and checking for road and weather advisories before undertaking a road trip.  The roads can quickly become perilous if one is distracted for a fraction of a second.

Panish, Shea, & Boyle L.L.C. is a renowned plaintiff law firm that specializes in representing those that have been seriously hurt by the negligence of individuals, corporations, or the government.  If you have been involved in a serious auto accident in Los Angeles, contact our attorneys for a free consultation of your case. Our clients owe no fee unless we obtain a recovery for them.  Please call 1-866-992-1700 today to discuss the specifics of your incident.