Road Rage Leads to the Death of Two Drivers in Natomas
I’m Ed Smith, a Natomas wrongful death lawyer. An altercation between two motorists on August 12 in Natomas along Interstate 5 ended with the death of both drivers following an altercation that escalated into a fight. According to representatives of the Sacramento Highway Patrol (CHP), the vehicles originally collided with each other, but the drivers both kept going north along the freeway. They eventually stopped their vehicles close to Del Paso Road, got out of their cars and began fighting. I would like to extend my sympathy to the families and friends of those who died in their time of loss and great sorrow.
What Happened
According to the CHP, reports of the collision began coming in at about 3:44 in the morning along I-5, north of Arena Boulevard. It was said that two individuals had continued the original altercation further along the freeway. Witnesses reported that one was being attacked by the other with some sort of weapon. That man died at the scene from what seemed to be some type of blunt force trauma. Afterward, the other driver began walking along the freeway in a northerly direction where he was struck and killed by a car.
Fatalities in the Accident
Upon arrival at the accident scene, officers determined that there were two fatalities caused by the altercation. The driver of the vehicle who struck the second man remained at the scene and was reported as being cooperative with authorities. The incident between the two men was allegedly viewed by a number of witnesses who also remained at the accident scene.
Road Closure
Because of the complexity of this accident, authorities were forced to shut down all of northbound Interstate 5 for a number of hours while an investigation was conducted. The area that was closed ran from Arena Boulevard to the connector for Highway 99. Hours later, CHP officers and investigators were still at the scene collecting evidence and interviewing witnesses.
Road Rage
Cases of aggressive driving and incidents caused by road rage are becoming more common among the nation’s highways. However, while aggressive driving is dangerous and can cause accidents resulting in serious injuries and fatalities, road rage is considered a criminal offense in California. Following are examples of the differences between aggressive driving and road rage.
Aggressive Driving
Aggressive drivers tend to be angry, impatient or in a hurry, which makes them disregard their own safety and that of others sharing the roadway. Examples of aggressive driving include:
- Speeding in heavy traffic
- Neglecting to use turn signals
- Blocking other vehicles when they attempt to pass or change lanes
- Reckless driving such as running a red light or stop sign
- Cutting in and out of traffic to try and get ahead of other vehicles
- Tailgating other vehicles in an attempt to get them to move out of the way
Road Rage
Road rage is more extreme behavior that not only threatens vehicles on the road but personally threatens the drivers and passengers in a vehicle. One example is an incident that happened in Sacramento in June when one driver exited his car, jumped on the hood of another vehicle and broke out the car’s windows before police arrived. Other examples include:
- Intentionally sideswiping another vehicle
- Yelling or making obscene gestures
- Trying to run another vehicle off the road
- Throwing things at another driver
- Ramming into another vehicle intentionally
- Getting into a physical altercation with another driver
- Aiming or firing a weapon at another vehicle or driver
Is Aggressive Driving Common?
Unfortunately, the American Automobile Association reports that aggressive driving is common on today’s roadways. Respondents to a survey on aggressive driving behaviors came up with the following statistics:
- Forty-seven percent of drivers admitted to yelling at another motorist.
- Tailgating another vehicle intentionally was admitted to by 51 percent of the respondents.
- Thirty-three percent of respondents said they made rude gestures toward another motorist.
- Twelve percent of drivers said they cut another vehicle off intentionally.
- Honking at another motorist was admitted by 45 percent of the people who answered the survey.
- Three percent of respondents said they rammed another vehicle on purpose.
- Twenty-four percent of the answerers admitted to preventing another driver from changing lanes.
- Four percent of the drivers said they followed another driver out of anger off the exit ramp to pursue them.
Natomas Car Accident Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Natomas Wrongful Death Lawyer. If someone you loved has been killed in an accident, you need an experienced lawyer to obtain the compensation you and your family deserve. Call me at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400 for friendly and free advice. You can contact me online if it is more convenient for you.
I have helped numerous residents of Natomas and the surrounding area with all types of car accidents and traumatic brain injury among others.
I belong to a forum of lawyers called the Million Dollar Advocates, who have won in excess of $1 million for a client.
If you need an attorney, you should learn about them and their practice even when you have little time to do so. I’ve made it easy to learn about me and my practice. Just go to the following pages to learn what my peers and previous clients thought about me as well as review how I resolved prior cases:
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