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Tragic Accident on I-80 Kills 3

Posted on behalf of Arnold Law Firm in

On Jan. 12, three individuals were fatally injured in an early morning accident on Interstate 80, according to News 10 ABC. The accident involved a head-on collision between two vehicles. 

Kendra Langham, 18, Matthew Beard-Witt, 18, and Matthew Azar, 20, were all killed in the accident. The young adolescents were headed east on I-80 around 2:00 a.m. when they were struck head-on by a vehicle driven by Aaron Jordon Caudillo, a 24-year-old from Roseville.

Investigators are still investigating how Caudillo came to be driving west on I-80 eastbound lanes. Preliminary reports suggest that he may have been intoxicated at the time of the accident.

The speed of Caudillo’s vehicle at the time of the accident is also still under investigation. Caudillo’s injuries were critical and he was treated at a nearby hospital.

Co-workers of the fatally injured teenagers expressed shock after hearing of the tragedy and employers committed to financially supporting organizations like M.A.A.D. to reduce future DUI-related car accidents.

Fatal car crashes caused by drunk driving are tragic and avoidable. If you have lost someone you love to a drunk driver, contact the Arnold Law Firm’s dedicated Sacramento car accident lawyers for experienced legal help. 

DUI Injury Lawyers

At Arnold Law Firm, one of the most difficult things that we do is help grieving families hold negligent drivers accountable for their actions.

These types of tragedies bring home the impact that one poor decision can have on an entire community.

If you or a loved one has been involved in an auto accident involving a negligent intoxicated driver, please call (916) 777-7777or use the Free Case Evaluation form and speak to an experienced car accident lawyer in Sacramento from our law firm.

Settlement - $3,767,000

Truck Accident

A 20-year-old man who had been married for just 12 days left home on his way to work. He was driving on Pleasant Grove Road in Sutter County in the early morning when he came upon a slow-moving truck. As he pulled out to pass the truck, the truck driver turned left in front of him. The young man attempted to steer back into his lane but his vehicle struck an un-flagged piece of metal extending from the back of the truck. He died in the resulting crash.

Expert witnesses brought in by the Arnold Law Firm proved that the truck, owned and operated by a hauling firm, should never have been on the highway that morning. Specifically, the rear and side turn signals did not work and the rear-view mirror was in a poor state of adjustment at the time of the collision. As a result, the driver, who had failed to properly inspect the vehicle before setting out that morning, couldn’t see the young man’s vehicle as it attempted to pass.

The poor condition of the truck, its lack of maintenance and the manner in which it was operated were found to be substantial factors in causing the collision that killed the young man. The testimony also established that the man had been making a lawful pass at the lawful speed limit and acted reasonably when he attempted to avoid the collision.

The man’s 20-year-old widow was awarded $3,767,000.77, his parents were awarded $185,131 and the family was reimbursed $11,899 in funeral expenses. Though money is a poor substitute for a young man’s life, this verdict demonstrates that drivers who endanger the lives of others will be held accountable for their actions.