An Oxnard car accident on Tuesday resulted in the death of a woman who apparently drove her car into oncoming traffic. According to the Ventura County Star, the woman, Jill McDonald, an Oxnard resident, apparently caused the collisions when her BMW, going south on Victoria Avenue, went over the dirt median and into the opposing lanes of traffic. There, it had head on collisions with two other vehicles.
Oxnard police said it was not yet clear why McDonald crossed the median and went into oncoming traffic. According to Oxnard police, Roberto Ramos, the driver of one of the vehicles struck by McDonald, suffered a leg injury and also experienced chest pain in the car accident in Oxnard. The other car struck by McDonald, driven by Donna Leitte, also had four young children inside. Fortunately, according to police, the children and Leitte only sustained what were described as minor injuries in the Oxnard accident.
This is a complicated legal situation. Those who were injured in these collisions should contact an Oxnard personal injury lawyer to investigate the cause of the crashes and why McDonald went into oncoming traffic. There are numerous possible reasons why McDonald could have crossed over the median. Possible explanations include avoiding a hazard, a sudden health incident (such as a stroke or heart attack), a tire blowout or a suicide attempt. The coroner’s office should be able to determine the cause of death and whether McDonald died before or after the impacts.
If someone else’s negligence caused McDonald to lose control of her vehicle and go into the opposing lanes of traffic, McDonald’s family may be able to make an Oxnard wrongful death claim against the responsible party. This will require locating the party and proving, usually through witness testimony, that the party caused the collision. If this theory is to be pursued, McDonald’s heirs should immediately contact an Oxnard wrongful death lawyer.