Fatal Accident of Elk Grove Policeman Caused by Wrong-Way Driver

Accident on Highway 99 Occurred as Motorcycle Policeman Was Going to Work

A fatal accident involving an Elk Grove motorcycle policeman and a wrong-way driver occurred in Sacramento on January 21. The fallen police officer was a 6-year veteran of the department and was fatally injured while riding his motorcycle to work. The officer was the first in the history of the Elk Grove Police Department to be killed while on duty. 

Details of the Fatal Accident

The collision occurred in Sacramento around 5:00 a.m. along Highway 99 southbound close to 12th Avenue. Officers with the California Highway Patrol (CHP) and additional emergency personnel arrived at the accident scene to discover the motorcycle officer had suffered a major injury. He was transported to a nearby hospital, where he died despite efforts to save his life. According to the police report, a vehicle going in the wrong direction in the fast lane along Highway 99 struck the motorcycle head-on. 

Highway Closed for Hours as Investigation Is Conducted

An investigation into the wrong-way driver accident was held throughout the morning until at least 11:00 a.m. Highway 99 southbound remained closed as well as ramps nearby along the Cap City Freeway and Highway 50. Video taken from the air showed a Dodge Challenger facing in the wrong direction in Highway 99’s southbound fast lane. The vehicle had sustained severe front-end damage. The motorcycle, which had been mangled in the collision, laid nearby on the ground. 

Wrong-Way Driver Faces Multiple Charges in Death of Police Officer

The wrong-way driver who caused the fatal accident was placed under arrest on a charge of murder and several drunk driving charges that are felony-related. He was identified as a man, age 31, and officers said he was walking away from the accident scene when he was stopped and detained. He is being held at the Sacramento County main jail without bail.

Contacting a Wrongful Death Lawyer for Advice

The legal team and staff at AutoAccident.com understand what you are going through when you’ve lost a loved one in an accident that never should have happened. We treat our clients like family, and show you the compassion you need in this trying time, and work hard to take the burden of filing a wrongful death off you. You can call us to set up a free, no-obligation virtual appointment where one of our injury lawyers can answer your questions, review your case and tell you about options to recover damages. 

Why Consider Filing a Wrongful Death Claim?

When people are deep in grief over the loss of a loved one, they don’t always think about filing a wrongful death claim. However, by doing so, they can not only recover damages to avoid the financial distress that often accompanies a family member’s death, but it can help bring them justice for their loss. By filing a claim for wrongful death, the family members may receive:

  • Funeral and burial expenses for their loved one
  • Wages the loved one would have received until the age of retirement, including pension and insurance benefits
  • The surviving spouse can receive compensation for the loss of consortium
  • Children in the family can receive compensation for the loss of nurturing and guidance their parent provided
  • If the decedent was alive for a period of time before passing, a survival action may be placed, which recovers the medical expenses incurred by the loved one before they passed away
  • Under certain circumstances, the family may ask that punitive damages be awarded 

Sacramento Personal Injury Attorney & Wrongful Death Lawyers

My name is Ed Smith, and I am a Sacramento wrongful death lawyer. When your loved one died because of another’s negligence, the family may wish to find out if they can place a wrongful death claim. We offer you compassionate, free and friendly advice when you call us at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400. You can also reach us online.

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Photo attribution: Image by Myriams-Fotos from Pixabay 

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