Butte County Fatal Head-On Crash on Highway 99 Kills Woman

Home » Butte County Fatal Head-On Crash on Highway 99 Kills Woman
October 03, 2023
Edward Smith

Fatal Head-On Crash Near Toland Road Occurs in Oroville

A fatal head-on crash in Butte County along Highway 99 on September 30 resulted in the death of a woman. The accident occurred close to Toland Road in Oroville around 11:00 a.m. The incident report by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) said the female driver, an Arcata resident, 31, in a Cadillac Escalade, was going north and attempted to pass a tractor-trailer when she crashed head-on with the driver of a Honda Accord. 

Allegedly Not Enough Room to Pass in Fatal Head-On Crash 

Evidence in the collision and witnesses indicate that the driver did not have enough clearance to pass safely. The female driver of the Honda was killed in the collision. The driver who tried to pass was transported to a hospital to treat her injuries and is reportedly in stable condition. A child was present in her vehicle and sustained no more than minor trauma but was taken to a hospital to be checked out. 

Driver Arrested in Fatal Head-On Crash and Charged in Death

The driver of the Escalade was placed under arrest by authorities and charged with vehicular manslaughter. Two dogs were thrown out of one of the vehicles by the accident, and Animal Control located one, transporting it to a veterinarian, but are still searching for the other. Significant traffic delays occurred as a result of the crash. 

Investigation Ongoing by California CHP

The investigation into the accident is ongoing and conducted by the CHP traffic accident unit. The deceased driver’s identity is pending the family’s notification by the County Coroner’s Office.

Filing for Damages in a Wrongful Death Case

Immediate family members can recover damages from losing a loved one in a fatal head-on crash by filing a wrongful death claim. This is if negligence by another was the cause. Immediate family refers to the spouse and children of the deceased. If the decedent was unmarried and had no children, their siblings and parents may file. So might the estate executor. However, only one claim is possible.

Compensation Recoverable in a Wrongful Death

When filing for wrongful death, your family may claim financial losses such as funeral costs, lost wages and benefits, and other damages related to the death of your loved one. Pain and suffering may be considered non-economic damages, as may emotional distress and loss of companionship and guidance provided by the deceased. The at-fault party can be held accountable, and your family can receive assistance in getting through this challenging time with the help of an injury lawyer.

Ed Smith, an Oroville accident lawyer, offers these tips to help you select an injury attorney:

Personal Injury Attorney in Oroville

I’m Ed Smith. I am a personal injury attorney in Oroville. Call us at (530) 392-9400 if your family member died due to another’s negligence to get compassionate, free, and friendly legal advice. You can also call us long-distance at (800) 404-5400. We can be reached online as well. We offer free consultations in person or virtually if you need an injury lawyer to discuss your case and let you know your options for recovering compensation. 

The honor of being a Million Dollar Advocate and belonging to the Top 1 Percent is something we take very seriously. As you can see in Settlements and Verdicts, Yelp, and Google, our accident attorneys have helped various clients seek fair compensation.

Photo attribution: Image by MisersMillions from Pixabay

:cd llo [cs 595]