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Vehicular Manslaughter Charges to be Filed in Santa Ana Freeway Crash
August 23, 2007

Back in May, three siblings aged between 2 and 5 were killed on the Santa Ana (I-5) Freeway, near Mission Viejo, California when their stopped minivan was hit by a big-rig truck owned by the Carson based K.W. Express. Two of the kids died instantaneously in the crash, while the third died in hospital. Their deaths sent shockwaves throughout the nation, and messages of sympathy poured in from all quarters. Their mother, Lori Coble, and grandmother, Cynthia Maestri, suffered severe injuries in the horrific accident.

Last week the California Highway Patrol submitted its report on the crash to the Orange County's District Attorney's Office, recommending that vehicular manslaughter charges be brought against the driver of the truck, Jorge Miguel Romero. The findings of the report indicate that Romero's dangerously fast driving lead to the fatal crash.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Romero told police he was driving at a speed between 55 to 60 mph in the slow lane on Interstate 5. When traffic suddenly slowed down, he couldn't decelerate the truck fast enough, and rammed through the Coble's 2006 Chrysler minivan that had stopped in a lane stacked with southbound cars. California law requires that drivers maintain a safe speed limit while driving that takes into consideration weather conditions, visibility, traffic and other factors.

Soon after the crash, investigators found that Carson, California based K.W. Express committed a series of traffic safety violations, including failing to test drivers for drugs and alcohol. Company officials failed to test Romero after the incident, whereas according to guidelines he should have been tested for alcohol within eight hours of the accident and for drugs within 32 hours.

According to court records, Romero seems to have a track record of speeding. He was cited on two occasions, in 2002 and 2006, for speeding while driving a tractor-trailer. He was ticketed back in 1997 for driving on a suspended license, and again in 2005 for driving without the lights on. This was not the kind of man who should have been allowed to drive an 80,000 pound machine, and especially not on a stretch of highway that's known to have some backed up traffic.

According to the Cobles' attorney, the family is exploring the possibilities of legal action against Romero, K.W. Express and Caltrans. Hopefully they will proceed with a wrongful death claim. This would send a powerful message to truck operators and drivers about the absolute necessity of strict safety guidelines, and prevent similar tragedies.

If you have been involved in a truck accident, you need the soundest and most experienced representation to proceed with your case. Call the personal injury attorneys at The Reeves Law Group for a free consultation.

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Safety Concerns may Overturn Newport Beach Waste Disposal Trucking Bid
August 08, 2007

As if the increasing frequency of truck accidents in California was not enough, it now appears that the Newport Beach City Council awarded a 10 million dollar waste disposal contract to a company that has a history of poor truck maintenance.

New documents based on police and California Highway Patrol reports and a complaint filed by the Orange County District Attorney have come to light. These reveal a multitude of maintenance problems with the truck fleet operated by Newport Beach based Ware Disposal which won the hefty 10 year contract.

In 2005, the company received poor ratings on California Highway Patrol inspection reports. The infractions included the use of bald tires, faulty brake systems, and lights and turn signals that were in need of repair. Inspectors back then went as far as to warn that the company's trucks presented an "imminent danger to public safety." The matter was then referred to the Orange County District Attorney's Office and consequently, Ware Disposal pled guilty on various counts and was fined $11,000.

Even more appalling is the number of California Highway Patrol and police citations that the company has received since 2003 - reportedly more than 110. According to the Orange County Register, Ware Disposal's was the lowest bid and that city staff actually wanted to go with a more experienced, higher bidder. Cost factors seem to have taken priority over safety concerns here.

Ware Disposal claims that they have made recent efforts to improve their fleet, but some find it difficult to trust company that in 2005 had inspectors saying they "continue to show a complete disregard for regulatory and statutory (safety) requirements," even after numerous citations. Astoundingly, officials in Newport Beach admitted that the safety record of bidders was not a factor during the bidding process, and are only now examining contractors' safety history since these revelations about Ware Disposal.

Nationwide, approximately 170,000 people are injured every year by truck accidents. These are especially prevalent in California, which is always among the top 3 states with the maximum number of trucking accidents. If you or your loved ones have been injured in a truck accident, it's extremely important that you waste no further time fighting for your rights. Call the car accident lawyers at The Reeves Law Group for a free consultation.

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