Northern California Accident Attorney Blog

SOLANO COUNTY - In personal injury news, the San Francisco Chronicle reported a jury in Solano County has awarded $29.2 million to victims of a head-on collision on Highway 12. The jury found that the state department of transportation (Caltrans) was responsible for the dangerous conditions on the hilly roadway.

However, jurors assigned the majority of the blame to San Francisco resident Nicola Bucci, who crossed his SUV across the center line and into an oncoming vehicle. Bucci was travelling an estimated 65 to 80 mph when he struck a Toyota at the top of a hill in November 2006, killing 12-year-old Demari Hutchinson and 7-year-old Immanuel Collison. Immanuel's mother was hospitalized for more than two months with major injuries. His brother was paralyzed from the waist down.

Bucci, according to the Chronicle, had previously been convicted of manslaughter for killing two people in 1994 in a head-on on crash in which he fell asleep at the wheel. He was convicted of second-degree murder following the 2006 crash on Highway 12.

According to the lawsuit, Caltrans had determined in the late 199's that the hills limited drivers' line of sight. Improvements were proposed, such as paved shoulders on each side of the road, but no action was ever taken. After another fatal collision in 2007, Caltrans installed a median barrier on part of the highway, but about 12 miles were still unprotected.

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SANTA ROSA - A 51-year-old Sebastopol man was very tragically killed in a motorcycle accident Wednesday evening, the Santa Rosa Press Democrat reported. The fatal Sonoma County crash occurred at about 5:35 p.m. on Highway 12, near Dutton Avenue. According to news reports of the incident, the victim, William "Billy Bob" Boltz was sideswiped by a 2003 GMC full-size van while riding his 1996 Harley Davidson motorcycle. Boltz was reportedly riding westbound and passing the van when the driver, Nathan Ham, 32, moved into the fast lane. Ham later told officers that he hadn't seen Boltz or his motorcycle while making the lane change. Boltz was taken to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, where he died of his injuries. Ham was not hurt.

Cause of the January 12th Highway 12 Crash

The incident remains under investigation by the California Highway Patrol. Based on the news reports, it appears that the driver of the van may be responsible for the collision. It is unclear what speed the motorcycle and van were travelling when the collision occurred.

Motorcycle Accident Wrongful Death Liability

Accidents like this one are tragic and heartbreaking, and raise many questions. While officials are looking into the cause of this accident, the family members of the victim may benefit from speaking to an experienced northern California motorcycle accident lawyer who can review the circumstances of the accident and advise the family of their legal rights. Depending on the circumstances, if negligence of the driver of the van was a factor in this crash, the family members of the victim may be entitled to wrongful death compensation for their loss, including final medical expenses, lost earnings and benefits, funeral and burial expenses, loss of love, care, and companionship, and other damages.

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