(Lancaster, CA) A 19-year-old named Ruby Herrera Gomez was tragically killed in a car crash on Saturday, January 18. It happened around 8 p.m. near Avenue J and 27th Street East in Lancaster.
Gomez was reportedly a passenger in a northbound gray sedan. The driver was on 27th Street East when they attempted a turn onto Avenue J and struck a green minivan.
Gomez sustained major trauma, and was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.
It’s unclear if the driver of the sedan or anyone in the minivan was hurt.
Anyone with information regarding this devastating collision is encouraged to call the sheriff’s Lancaster station at 661-940-3810.
Liability in a Lancaster Car Accident
It’s unclear what caused this accident at this time, but speeding is a top factor in causing car accidents. Speeding, as all motorists are aware, is a surefire way to make driving more dangerous for you, your passengers, and the cars around you.
California has what is called its “basic speed law,” which is a very straightforward law that says motorists must always drive at a “reasonable” speed based on road conditions. The law reads:
“No person shall drive a vehicle upon a highway at a speed greater than is reasonable or prudent having due regard for weather, visibility, the traffic on, and the surface and width of, the highway, and in no event at a speed which endangers the safety of persons or property.”
Always make sure to follow the speed limit, and adjust your speed based on road conditions, weather conditions, and any other unusual factors. Getting to your destination a little bit faster is not worth the risk of speeding.
Although it’s not yet clear which driver was at fault in this collision, the motorist responsible could be found liable for vehicular manslaughter.
A driver who recklessly operates a vehicle and in doing so causes another person’s death can be held liable for vehicular manslaughter.
It’s unclear at this time if either motorist was impaired, but if they were, the charges and consequences would likely be worse.
