A police technician was seriously injured in an Ontario car accident after the car in which he was travelling was struck by another vehicle. According to a news report in the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, the accident occurred the afternoon of June 28, 2010 at the intersection of Walnut Street and Baker Avenue. Ontario police officers say the police technician was driving east through the intersection.

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The driver of a white, older model Dodge Durango, who was going south on Baker, failed to stop for the stop sign, officials said. The Dodge Durango struck the technician's car and fled the scene of the collision. The technician's injuries were described as serious, but not life-threatening. Anyone with information about the hit-and-run crash is asked to contact Ontario police officials at 909-395-2001, ext. 4679.

I sympathize with this police technician, who has apparently served in the police department for a long time. I wish him the very best for a speedy and complete recovery. This victim and his family will be in my thoughts and prayers.

Car Accidents

According to California Highway Patrol's 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were 17 fatalities and 1,012 injuries involving car accidents in Ontario. In San Bernardino County as a whole, 263 people died and 8,504 people were injured as a result of car accidents in 2008.

Right-of-Way at a Stop Sign

If the details of this news report are accurate, it appears that the driver of the Durango not only ran the stop sign and struck the vehicle, but also fled the scene of the crash. Both running a stop sign and leaving the scene of a crash are serious violations of California law.

California law requires drivers to come to a complete stop at a stop sign and proceed with caution. According to California Vehicle Code section 21802 (a): "The driver of any vehicle approaching a stop sign at the entrance to, or within, an intersection shall stop as required by Section 22450. The driver shall then yield the right-of-way to any vehicles which have approached from another highway, or which are approaching so closely as to constitute an immediate hazard, and shall continue to yield the right-of-way to those vehicles until he or she can proceed with reasonable safety." Leaving the scene of a crash is also illegal under California Vehicle Code section 20001 (a).

Claim for Compensation

In such cases, injured victims would be well-advised to contact an experienced Ontario personal injury lawyer who will stay on top of the official investigation and make sure that their legal rights and best interests are protected. A knowledgeable car accident lawyer will also be able to advise victims about how their car insurance policy might apply to a hit-and-run collision or to an incident where the at-fault driver is uninsured or underinsured.

What can local law enforcement agencies do better to encourage members of the public to come forward with information about hit-and-run drivers?

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.