Multi-talented Yale Grad Dies in Pre-Memorial Day Weekend Car Crash

A multi-talented fresh graduate from Yale University was involved in a fatal single car accident last Saturday, a couple of days before the U.S. Memorial Day.

The victim was identified as Marina Keegan, 22, a prolific writer, actress and activist. Keegan in fact has just landed a job at the New Yorker as an editorial assistant.

According to reports, the single vehicle rollover occurred at around 2 o’clock in the afternoon, while she and her boyfriend Michael Gocksch were traveling along Cape Code. Investigations revealed that Keegan’s boyfriend lost control of his Lexus and hit the right-side guarding rail that caused the car to turn upside down.

Keegan was pronounced dead at the scene, while her boyfriend was transported to the nearest hospital and was said to be in a stable condition now.

Police said that both passengers were wearing seatbelts during the accident and that speed did not even appear to be a factor in the rollover incident.

Keegan’s mother said that “The Musical” is among her daughter’s legacies. In fact, Keegan was about to conduct a workshop for her co-musical “Independents,” which was scheduled to participate in the New York International Fringe Festival in August.

At present, the major factor that had caused the accident was not yet determined, but official police investigation is still underway.

Generally, car accidents happen due to several reasons, such as:

•    Driving beyond speed limits
•    Driving under the influence of intoxicating substance
•    Mechanical malfunction
•    Driving while texting or using handheld devices
•    Poor visibility caused by bad weather
•    Road defects
•    Defective car manufacturing

Apparently, driving beyond speed limit was not a factor in the said car accident that claimed the life of a multi-talented woman. Some people have expressed speculations that mechanical malfunction was more likely to be the factor that caused the accident.

It was stated under the law that anyone who had suffered personal injury and damages from a car accident can have the right to file a claim; in Keegan’s case, her family must first wait for the results of the investigation before they could consult a legal counsel to help them with their case.

Consulting a legal expert, like a Los Angeles automobile accident attorney, could help car crash victims or their respective families mount a claim from the liable party and demand monetary payment for their losses.

California, Second State to Allow Google Self Driving Car in its Roadways

Last Monday, the California State Senate finally approved the bill allowing Google self-driving cars to be tested on the state’s roadways. Now, the bill is set to go before the assembly next month.

The SB1298 was sponsored by State Senator Alex Padilla, D-Pacoima, and its approval came to light after the state of Nevada allowed the autonomous vehicles to be tested and operated on its roadways.

The bill would allow Google self-driving cars to be tested and operated on California roadways as well. In fact, California is only the second state to give Google self-driving cars a go signal after the search engine giant received a patent for driverless cars last year.

The bill passed unanimously, probably because some of the state senators have already test drove one of Google’s prototype cars.

Below are some quoted information regarding the said bill:

Google Self Driving Car

•    It sets up safety and performance standards for the safe operation of self-driving vehicles on California’s public roads.

•    It allows for the operation of self-driving vehicles on California’s public roads by a licensed driver.

•    It requires that a self-driving vehicle meets all applicable safety standards and performance requirements of both state and federal laws.

•    It allows the Highway Patrol, in consultation with the Department of Motor Vehicles, to recommend to the legislature additional requirements for the safe operation of such vehicles on California’s roadways.





It was actually last year when the said law was approved in Nevada and now after California, Arizona, Hawaii, Florida and Oklahoma are also considering self-driving car legislation.

Although the idea of a computer controlled car may make some people uncomfortable, the technology is bound to stay. Most probably, Google will become the company that manufactures such software that safely sends you home.

Senator Padilla said that human errors are the most common cause of car accidents on roadways. Therefore, if such self-driving vehicles can reduce the number of roadway injuries and traffic fatalities on California roadways, such decision is a matter of safety.

A Los Angeles car accident attorney is particularly pleased with Google’s concept vehicle. So much to consider that the said self-driving car is Google’s first innovation after the huge search engine came out of its nutshell. Google only proves that the company has a lot more to offer to people than just online browsing.

• Several lines from this blog post were quoted from an article written and posted online by Jerry Hirsch of the LA Times as a readers’ ready reference.

4 Mothers Going for a Mother’s Day Night Out Killed in Tragic Car Crash

Four mothers were killed in a tragic vehicle accident Sunday while they were traveling for a mother’s day night out.

Based on the initial investigation, the vehicle that the women were riding was traveling at a high speed when it crashed into a cement support column that holds up the elevated Green Line tracks in 4800 block of Lake. The car split into two.

Authorities tried to revive the four by transporting them to Mount Sinai hospital but they were pronounced dead at the hospital.

A mother in another vehicle told the police that they were about to meet the four at a downtown night club when the accident occurred.

The mothers involved in the crash were identified as Tyshyra Hines, 21, Alicia Goston, 22, Bernadette Harris, 25, and Ieshia Nelson, 21, all resident of 1200  block of North Lockwood.

Police did not mention who was driving the car, but relatives of the women believed that Nelson was driving the car when the accident occurred. According to the women’s relatives, the mothers were close friends who all lived in one neighborhood.

The mothers left six innocent children. Authorities were informed that Tyshyra was a single mom to a 4-year-old girl, Harris was a mother of three, Nelson was a mother of a 2-year-old boy, while Goston had a 2-year-old son.

Apparently, over speeding was a main factor in the said mother’s day car accident. A supposed to be an enjoyable mother’s day celebration turned to be a horrific tragedy for the four moms.

In such cases of car accident, chances of recovery seem close to impossible particularly if the investigation found out that the main cause of the accident was over speeding. Even a Los Angeles auto accident attorney can attest to that.

NHTSA’s “Click It or Ticket” Campaign to Curb Fatal Car Accidents

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently launched a campaign called “Click It or Ticket,” addressing drivers who refuse to wear seatbelts.

The “Click It or Ticket” campaign was said to be the most successful seatbelt campaign ever launched by the NHTSA.

The 2012 national "Click It or Ticket" seat belt enforcement mobilization will commence on May 17 and will last until June 3 to help save lives by enforcing strict measures on those who don’t wear seatbelts.

Many state traffic enforcers and highway safety advocates are joining the NHTSA’s campaign in deaths of motorists by strictly implementing seatbelt laws day and night.

The NHTSA’s 2010 statistics revealed that 61% of the 10,647 people who were killed in night time vehicle accidents were not wearing seatbelts while 42% were killed during day time.  Most of the victims are younger motorists.

NHTSA Chief Kevin Crews explained that many drivers and passengers on the road during night time are not wearing seat belts, that is why fatality rate resulting from vehicle accidents during night time is higher compared to day time. 

Crews further said that the NHTSA’s campaign aims to save more lives and that said seatbelts law will be implemented round the clock.

Moreover, based on the NHTSA’s 2010 statistics, seatbelts saved approximately 2,546 lives across the country. However, the NHTSA stressed out that many motorists still need to be strictly reminded to religiously wear seatbelts.

Although the said seatbelt law will be implemented all throughout the year, the campaign will be eagerly pushed from May until June.

Therefore, the NHTSA warns motorists who prefer not to wear seatbelts that traffic enforcers will be on the lookout day and night to catch violators. Additionally, “Click It or Ticket” offenders will be ticketed during the first violation without warning and consideration.

On the other hand, a personal injury lawyer said that said “Click It or Ticket” campaign indeed might save thousands of lives. Said lawyer also anticipates that the said seatbelt program will be strictly implemented not only this season, but until the rest of the year, to avoid more injuries and fatalities resulting from vehicle accidents.