January 11, 2010

Pit Bull Kills Child in Riverside County

Three-year-old Omar Martinez died in his back yard yesterday when the family's pit bull attacked him. At approximately 3:00 p.m., 911 dispatchers received a call that the boy was not breathing at a home on Goshute Avenue in Apple Valley after being attacked by the dog. When sheriff and firefighter's arrived, the boy's grandfather opened the gate to let them in the yard, but the dog got aggressive with the firefighters, who were forced to retreat back to their vehicles. A sheriff deputy at the scene also tried to enter, and when the dog again became aggressive, the officer shot and killed it.

When rescuers finally got to the boy he was unresponsive. The boy was transported to St. Mary Medical Center where he was pronounced dead at 4:41 p.m. According to a witness, the boy and his father were playing in the backyard with the dog. When the father went in the house, the dog attacked the boy, biting him in the throat. It is unclear why the dog bit the boy, and the Sheriff's Department said there were no previous reports of an aggressive dog at the residence.

Source: San Bernardino Sun

The Walton Law Firm represents individuals and families throughout Southern California in cases in personal injury cases, including car accidents, dog bites, medical malpractice, motorcycle accidents, uninsured motorist claims, defective products, construction accidents, slip and fall injuries, dog bites, and insurance disputes. Call (866) 607-1325 for a free consultation.

Bookmark and Share

June 9, 2009

Police Search for Hit-and-Run Driver

The California Highway Patrol is looking for a hit-and-run driver that caused a multiple vehicle crash that killed three people, including an 11-year-old girl. The accident occurred last Tuesday afternoon on Highway 74 in Riverside County.

According to witnesses, an Acura or Honda was tailgating a Ford Fusion then tried to pass it, sideswiping the Ford and pushing it into an Audi. That caused the Audi to strike a Mitsubishi Montero head on. The driver of the Acura or Honda, which had tinted windows and spinner wheels, was described as a man in his early 20s with a tattoo on his left forearm.

Two of the three people killed were Cedric Page and his niece 11-year-old Zaria Williams. Williams was going to graduate from the fifth grade on June 10.

Any person with information about the hit-and-run crash is asked to call the CHP at (951) 769-2000.




Bookmark and Share

May 27, 2009

Marines Help Auto Accident Victims

Here's a good story. As Capt. Thomas Schwabenbauer was on his way to the Marine Combat Center from San Diego last Sunday, he heard a crash as he was traveling on westbound I-10. He looked up to to see an SUV up in the air.

"The first thing I remember thinking was I knew I had to get over there as fast as possible. It was go time," said Schwabenbauer.

The SUV was had a tire failure and rolled several times before stopping, upside down in the right lane.

"When I got to the side of the road, I saw there was a lady inside," he said. "I jumped inside and got her seat belt off, but I noticed her leg was stuck between the car and the ground. We had to rock the car up in order to pull her out."

Once she was removed, Schwabenbauer could see the severity of her injuries, which included major damage to her lower leg. He then used her belt as a tourniquet to stop the bleeding, and comforted the woman to keep her from going into shock.

Schwabenbauer had medical training in the Marine Corp, and used that knowledge at the scene. Authorities have credited Schwabenauer, and his Marine friend Lance Cpl. James Nielsen, with saving the woman's life.

The San Diego accident and injury lawyers at Walton Law Firm LLP represent individuals and families who have been injured in all types of accidents, including those caused by product defects, car accidents, motorcycle accidents, bicycle accidents, construction accident. Call (866) 607-1325 for a free consultation.

Bookmark and Share

May 26, 2009

Surge in Drowning Deaths Cause Concern

It's not yet summer, and Riverside County has already had four drownings this year; all boys under the age of five. Near-drowinings are also up. In the prior year, the County had a total of seven drownings.

"We're very concerned," said Victoria Young, a nurse with the county health department. "We definitely have seen a big surge."

In California, drowning is the leading cause of death for children younger than five, with more than 80 percent occurring in backyard pools. In this year's Riverside drownings, two involved children who exited the house through the doggy-door, and the other two involved murky, unmaintained pools.

According to studies, there are more than a million pools in the state without any safety features such as a gate, fence, or net. And officials point out that such safety features are not entirely child-proof. Ultimately, officials say, the only real drowning prevention device is adult supervision.

The personal injury attorneys at Walton Law Firm LLP represent individuals and families who have been impacted by accidental injuries and death. Call (866) 607-1325 for a free consultation.

Bookmark and Share