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15-Year-Old Sacramento Dancer Killed in Highway Truck Accident

Posted on behalf of Arnold Law Firm in
A member of the El Camino High School varsity dance team was killed last April in a tragic Sacramento County truck accident after a pickup truck slammed into the back of a car in which she was a passenger. The out-of-control pickup truck forced the car underneath a semi-truck that had applied its brakes just moments before the crash. The driver and a second passenger in the struck vehicle, as well as the driver of the semi-truck, all sustained non life-threatening injuries. The at-fault driver of the pickup truck, Patrick Montgomery, 60, sustained minor injuries. According to local authorities, Montgomery’s pickup truck slammed into the back of a car in which the 15-year-old was riding after the cars driver slowed down in response to a braking big rig. Because Montgomery was driving his pickup truck at an unsafe speed, he was unable to stop before colliding with the rear end of the car containing the teenaged victim. The teen, who was an aspiring hip-hop dancer, died at the scene of the crash. The rear-end collision occurred at about 4:00 on a Sunday afternoon in a northbound lane of the Capital City Freeway, just north of the H Street on-ramp. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) closed the northbound lanes for several hours after the crash. CHP is investigating whether Montgomery’s speeding was a result of distracted driving. Currently, Montgomery is facing charges of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence. He is expected to make his first court appearance on Jan. 4. The victims mother hopes that her child’s death wont be in vain and is pleading for justice. This tragic fatal collision is one of many recent highway accidents involving semi-trucks that has California residents concerned for their safety and the safety of their loved ones. In 2009 alone, 262 motorists died as a result of semi-truck related accidents on California’s roadways. Tractor-trailer truck collisions have also caused many Californians to suffer injuries severe enough to warrant months or years of physical and emotional rehabilitation. Because of the amount of trauma associated with semi-truck collisions, many accident survivors are left with questions regarding the truck accident; namely, who is liable for the accident and who is responsible for the survivors mounting medical bills. If you or someone you love has been injured in a semi-truck accident, its wise to contact a knowledgeable Sacramento truck accident lawyer at Arnold Law Firm as soon as possible. For over forty years, we have been helping truck accident victims receive the justice and compensation they deserve.

Call (916) 777-7777 or fill out our form for a FREE LEGAL CONSULTATION today to contact an experienced personal injury lawyer in Sacramento and learn more about your legal options.

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.