Fatal Huntington Beach Motorcycle Accident

Devin Santiago, 23, was killed in a Huntington Beach motorcycle accident after he was struck by a U-Haul van. According to a news report in the Orange County Register, the fatal crash occurred near Pacific Coast Highway and 8th Street the night of September 28, 2014. Police say Santiago was traveling north in his 2012 Yamaha motorcycle on Pacific Coast Highway when it collided with a GMC U-Haul van crossing Coast Highway from 8th Street.

When police arrived at the scene, Santiago was lying partially under the van. He was transported to a local hospital where he died from his injuries. The van’s driver, a 59-year-old Newport Beach man, and his female passenger were not injured. No citations or arrests have been reported. Anyone with information about the collision is asked to contact Huntington Beach police at 714-536-5666. The investigation is still ongoing.

We offer our deepest condolences to the family members and friends of Devin Santiago for their tragic and heartbreaking loss. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

 Motorcycle Crash Statistics

According to California Highway Patrol’s 2011 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), one person died and 39 were injured as a result of Huntington Beach motorcycle accidents. In Orange County as a whole, 18 fatalities and 796 injuries were reported due to motorcycle accidents during the same year.

 Right-of-Way Issues

Based on this news report, it appears that the driver of the U-Haul was on 8th Street attempting to cross Pacific Coast Highway. The van driver had a stop sign while the motorcyclist did not. It is unclear if the van’s driver failed to stop at the stop sign or failed to yield the right-of-way to the motorcyclist.

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.”

Fault and Liability

If the van’s driver is determined to have been at fault, he could be held liable for the motorcyclist’s wrongful death. If the dangerous design of the intersection is determined to have caused or contributed to the incident, the city or governmental agency responsible for maintaining the roadway can also be held liable. An experienced Huntington Beach personal injury lawyer will be able to advise injured victims and their families regarding their legal rights and options. The best law firms will always offer a free consultation and a comprehensive case evaluation to injured victims and their families.