Blog Post

Memorial Day Car Accidents in Los Angeles Kill Seven


May 27, 2008
Topic: Auto Accidents

The Memorial Day weekend turned into a tragedy for at least seven Los Angeles residents who were reported killed in accidents across Los Angeles. 27 were also injured in these car accidents.

The most destructive car accident occurred when a van speeding south on Crenshaw ran a red light and collided with another van. The second vehicle was thrown into the air. By the time it smashed onto the ground, it had exploded into flames. This set off a chain reaction, with at least four other vehicles running into the burning van. Three people died in that crash, including two children who died at the scene. At least 100 emergency workers were called in to control the flames. By the time the flames had been doused, the six-car pileup had been declared the worst disaster of the holiday weekend.

The six-car accident was not the first one of the weekend to cause such destruction. A white Range Rover on Crescent Drive veered off the road and rolled 250 feet down a steep hill, before landing upside down on a carport. Inside were five passengers, including the driver, a 70-year-old man and a toddler in a car seat. The 70-year-old man was declared dead at the scene. A 20-year-old passenger was taken to hospital, where she died. The driver of the van, who is suspected of being the older man's caretaker, has been critically injured. Two other passengers suffered moderate injuries, including a toddler who had a miraculous escape.

Another four-vehicle car accident on Monday evening, this one on the southbound Hollywood freeway, led to at least two vehicles overturning. No fatalities were reported, but at least 8 people, including a child, are reported to have been injured.

Every year, the media and the state police send out their routine "be safe on Memorial Day" messages, but it doesn't seem to sink deep enough to avoid such fatalities. Many factors contribute to an increasing number of car accidents over the holiday weekend. Alcohol is definitely the most important factor in car accidents that occur over a major holiday. Add to this the fact that there are many more vehicles on the street, all in a hurry to get to someone's backyard or pool party, and you see that conditions are prime for devastating car accidents to occur. In the six-car wreck, the van that set off the crash ran a red light.

Accidents, whenever they occur, are unfortunate, especially when they involve fatalities or severe injuries. If these occur around a beloved holiday, it's particularly heartbreaking.

If you have been injured in a car accident, you need the help of an experienced California personal injury lawyer. Contact an attorney at The Reeves Law Group for a free consultation.


The California personal injury attorneys at The Reeves Law Group represent victims of accidents, injuries and wrongful death throughout California from our offices in Los Angeles County, Orange County, San Diego County, Riverside County, San Bernardino County, Ventura County, Fresno County, Kern County, Sacramento County, San Fernando Valley, Long Beach, Antelope Valley, Torrance, Glendale, Bakersfield, Santa Ana, San Jose, San Francisco, Oakland, Ontario, and Victorville.