Highway 101 Crash Kills Two
Two people tragically lost their lives during a Highway 101 crash in Humboldt County on Wednesday, December 18, 2019. The crash occurred in a rural area south of Eureka, CA and involved two cars. California Highway Patrol (CHP) stated that the two drivers involved in the crash were reportedly the only people in the vehicles at the time of the accident and that the incident is still under investigation. County officials have identified the decedents as 32-year-old Teiwaz Steenblock-Smith of Willow Creek and 44-year-old Jamie Mae Sanchez of Eureka. A GoFundMe page has been created on behalf of Teiwaz Steenblock-Smith’s family to help cover his end of life expenses and memorial services.
Crash Information
CHP indicated that the accident happened at around 9:20 a.m. just south of Benbow Drive on southbound Highway 101. A man was driving a white sedan was heading north on the highway approaching the location of a southbound gray hatchback. For reasons that are not currently understood by investigators, the sedan drifted left and entered southbound lanes, eventually colliding head-on with the hatchback.
Responders reaching the collision scene found that both the male driver of the sedan and the female driver of the hatchback were critically injured. Tragically, both individuals were pronounced deceased at the accident site.
Investigation
Highway 101 was closed off at the crash scene, and traffic was diverted onto Benbow Drive while response and a preliminary investigation took place. So far, CHP reports on suspected causal factors remain unavailable. However, accidents like this are often caused by factors that drivers can’t control, including defective auto parts and hazards in the road.
When a person loses their life in a crash, investigators lose a piece of the story about what happened. For this reason, important evidence in fatal accidents can go overlooked during police investigations. In order to ensure that the accident is fully investigated, it’s important to call a wrongful death lawyer who knows how to look into a case with the rights of decedents and their families in mind.
Fatal Accidents and Financial Recovery
People who have suddenly lost a person in their family often experience a state of shock that eventually turns into intense grieving. During this time, it can be difficult to focus, and many people have a hard time keeping up with their regular lives. Furthermore, a fatal crash can leave families without a source of income. In other cases, losing somebody means losing an important member of your household who used to take care of childcare, cleaning, home maintenance, and other tasks that are expensive to pay for out of pocket. Because of these issues, grieving families often don’t have the financial security they need during an incredibly difficult time.
However, by getting in touch with a lawyer and filing a wrongful death claim, certain family members and dependents of decedents are able to obtain payments from negligent parties to cover their losses. Even if you are unsure about your situation, it’s always best to speak personally to an attorney to understand what your options may be.
More Articles by Ed Smith, Eureka Wrongful Death Attorney
- Utility Pole Collision Hospitalizes Eureka Woman
- What Does a Eureka Personal Injury Lawyer Do?
- Eureka Rollover Causes Major Trauma
Eureka Wrongful Death Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Eureka wrongful death lawyer. Dealing with the loss of a loved one can be very difficult. If a deadly crash changed your life, please call my office at (800) 404-5400 or (530) 392-9400 to get my free, friendly advice. For 37 years, I’ve worked with residents of Eureka and Humboldt County on severe injury and wrongful death cases. To learn about the work I’ve done, I encourage you to take a look at my case settlements and trial verdicts. Also, see my client feedback and ratings on:
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