Neil Hillan, 47, Santiago Vasquez, 24, of Hawthorne, and Norma Najera-Villeda, 41 -- were all killed in a Los Angeles car accident after they were struck by a car as they exchanged information outside their respective vehicles. Their cars had been involved in an earlier collision. According to a news report in the Los Angeles Daily News, the fatal crash occurred early morning on March 23, 2010 on the 101 Freeway in Sherman Oaks.

California Highway Patrol officials said Hillan and Vasquez were driving two of three vehicles involved in the initial crash and Najera-Villeda was a passenger. The three were hit by a 2000 BMW whose driver has been identified as 25-year-old Haik Madoyan. He suffered moderate injuries. Two others were also injured in the crash. No charges have been filed yet pending an official investigation.

I offer my deepest sympathies to the families of these deceased victims. My heart goes out to everyone who knew and loved them. Please keep these grieving families in your thoughts and prayers.

Los Angeles Car Accidents

There were 268 fatalities and 25,588 injuries involving car accidents in Los Angeles, according to California Highway Patrol's 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS). Countywide, 667 deaths and 52,229 injuries were reported as a result of car accidents during the same year.

Accident Causes

Based on this news report, it is not clear why the driver of the BMW, Madoyan, crashed into these three individuals on the freeway, who were apparently exchanging information about a prior accident. Was Madoyan under the influence? Was he distracted? Was he fatigued or asleep at the wheel? Was he negligent or driving recklessly? I trust CHP investigators are looking into these and other factors in order to determine exactly why this crash occurred.

Liability Issues

It would be in the best interests of the deceased victims' families to seek the counsel of a reputed personal injury attorney in Los Angeles, who will stay on top of the official investigation and hold the negligent parties accountable for their actions. In this particular case, if Madoyan is determined to have been at fault, then he could be held not only criminally, but also civilly liable for the wrongful death of Hillan, Vasquez and Najera-Villeda. The best personal injury law firms will always offer a free consultation and comprehensive case evaluation to injured victims and their families.

What precautionary steps do you take if you must get out of your vehicle while on the freeway?

None of the parties mentioned in this article are represented by us at the time this article was posted. The source of our information is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call a reputable law firm for a consultation. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. The BISNAR | CHASE personal injury law firm will provide free, confidential consultation to "not at fault" persons and their family members if you mention your source was the “Personal Injury Law Journal." They can be reached at 866-456-5235 during California business hours.