Two Women Killed on Consecutive Sundays
Two women from the greater Placerville area recently lost their lives in single-vehicle crashes.
Sunday Afternoon Single-Car Accident
Shortly before 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, August 15, 2021, a single-vehicle incident that took place on eastbound Highway 50 took the life of a 35-year-old woman from Diamond Springs. The woman had been behind the wheel of a 2016 Hyundai Elantra when she veered off the highway just east of Silva Valley Road in the city of El Dorado Hills. Her car traveled down an embankment and crashed into a boulder, according to investigators with the California Highway Patrol (CHP). Reports indicate that the woman had not been wearing her seatbelt. She suffered fatal injuries after being ejected from the vehicle.
The identity of the deceased driver was not released. The cause of the accident remains under investigation, and CHP investigators have not indicated that alcohol or drug impairment was a causative factor.
Sunday Night Motorcycle Accident
A week later, on the night of Sunday, August 22, 2021, a 60-year-old woman from Somerset was killed in a solo motorcycle crash. Her name has not been released, pending notification of her family.
The woman had been riding a Harley Davidson motorcycle eastbound on Pleasant Valley Road near El Dorado when she traveled off the road and struck a boulder. The motorcycle then came to rest within a creek bed, according to a Placerville CHP report.
Authorities were alerted to the incident when a resident of Pleasant Valley Road called 911 at around 10:00 p.m. after she heard the crash on her property. Upon arrival, emergency responders found the driver and the wreckage of the Harley-Davidson. Sadly, the woman was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to investigators with the CHP, the woman had been using proper safety equipment. The investigation continues, and there has not yet been a determination if drugs or alcohol played a role in the incident.
Common Factors in Deadly Placerville-Area Accidents
Both fatal Placerville-area incidents, which occurred one week apart, involved solo women drivers who veered off the roadway and ultimately struck a boulder. Under what circumstances do vehicles usually veer off the roadway? Some common factors include:
- Distraction. Driving while distracted has always been a top cause of traffic collisions. It’s an even bigger problem in recent years due to the proliferation of hand-held mobile devices and navigation systems.
- Driver fatigue. Drowsy driving incidents are most common during early morning and late-night hours, but they can happen at any time of the day. Within the United States, more than 100,000 collisions annually can be attributed, at least in part, to drowsy driving.
- Driver impairment. The use of drugs and/or alcohol before driving remains one of the most serious problems on our roads. A driver does not have to be “wasted” to be dangerous. Impairment and decreased driving ability can occur after just one drink. It can also be caused by legal drugs – those obtained by prescription, or even some over-the-counter medications.
- Medical events. Another potential cause for a driver veering off the road is that they suffered a medical event while behind the wheel – a heart attack or stroke, for example. Such an event could cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle.
Watch the YouTube video. The clip below looks at a common cause of single-vehicle crashes: drowsy driving.
Placerville Personal Injury Lawyer
Hello, and thank you for reading. I’m Ed Smith, a Placerville personal injury attorney. The skilled injury lawyers at our firm have been advocating for injured Placerville residents for close to four decades. We also assist grieving families with their claims following the wrongful death of a loved one. If you or someone you love has suffered injuries in an accident due to someone else’s negligence, call us at (530) 392-9400 or (800) 404-5400 for compassionate, free, and friendly legal advice.
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