A San Diego woman was killed last month when her car was struck head-on by a minivan being driven the wrong way on Camino del Norte. The victim, Sarita Shakya, died at the scene, but the driver of the other vehicle, who is suspected of drunk driving, survived the crash with severe injuries. The crash occurred in 4S Ranch, shortly before midnight on December 17.
It was reported that the other driver was placed under arrest for vehicular homicide and other charges after she was taken to Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla.
Heartbreaking Loss for the Family
Shakya was a nurse at Scripps Mercy Hospital in Hillcrest and also the mother of a four-year-old daughter. Her loss will leave a hole in the lives of her family and others who knew her. Shakya was known in her community as a dedicated healthcare professional, and she had even appeared on the local news welcoming back a medical team returning from relief efforts in Nepal after a major earthquake there in 2015. Shakya was originally from Nepal herself, although San Diego had been her home for some time.
Wrong-Way Wrecks Deadly
The type of crash that led to Shakya’s tragic death is all-too-common. On December 7, a man caused a wrong-way crash on the I-5 in Sacramento. His car rolled and caught fire after the crash, causing a shutdown of the highway, but all involved suffered only minor injuries. The driver in that case reportedly scuffled with police after the crash and was hit with a Taser discharge. He died shortly afterward, and the incident is now under investigation.
Closer to the 4S Ranch crash, a ninety-three-year-old man died in November when his jeep, traveling the wrong way on I-805 north of San Diego, struck a barrier and another car. The driver of the other car suffered moderate injuries.
Wrong-way crashes were such a problem around San Diego in 2015 that Caltrans has launched a pilot program on some area highways in an effort to reduce the danger. Thirteen people died in wrong-way crashes on San Diego freeways that year. It’s not yet clear if the 2016 tally will be an improvement.
California Car Accident Lawyer
All motor vehicle accidents that lead to injury or death are terrible for those involved, but wrong-way crashes can be some of the hardest to bear. The victims often have little or no time to react because of the surprise factor and the speeds involved, which is part of the reason why the fatality rate in wrong-way incidents is much higher than in other crash types.
When you’ve been in an auto wreck caused by another driver, it’s important to have experienced help on your side when you make a claim to recover financial damages for the losses you’ve suffered. Kohan & Bablove, LLP understands the practice of automobile accident law, and we offer all clients a free consultation to discuss the details of their case and help them understand what to expect as the process moves forward. Call us today at 1-844-404-2400 or contact us online through the form below to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation.
