Man Killed in Orange County Motorcycle Accident

Larry Angelo, 68, of Fontana was killed in a motorcycle collision in Orange County after he lost control of his motorcycle and struck a truck pulling a trailer. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the fatal crash occurred the morning of March 6, 2013 on the northbound 405 Freeway just north of the 22 Freeway and involved a 2003 Kawasaki and a 2001 Ford F-150 pulling a utility trailer loaded with landscaping equipment.

California Highway Patrol officials say the truck was traveling about 55 mph when Angelo, who was two lanes over and going about 50 mph, suddenly lost control and was thrown off the motorcycle.

Angelo landed in the roadway and was struck by the rear axle of the trailer. He was pronounced dead at the scene. No arrest or citation was reported. The investigation is ongoing.

OC Accident Statistics

There were 19 fatalities and 750 injuries reported as a result of motorcycle accidents in Orange County, according to CHP’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS). Also, during the same year, 100 people died and 13,368 were injured as a result of traffic collisions in Orange County.

What Caused This Fatal Crash?

Based on this news report, it is unclear as to how or why Angelo lost control of his motorcycle. It appears from this article that the motorcyclist was traveling below the speed limit, probably at the speed of traffic. There are several unanswered questions here.

What caused him to lose control of the motorcycle? Did he hit any debris on the freeway? Was he struck by another vehicle on the freeway? Did a motorcycle defect or malfunction cause or contribute to this incident? I trust officials are looking into these and other issues in order to determine precisely what occurred here and why.

Wrongful Death Claim

In such cases, the at-fault motorist or party can be held liable for the victim’s wrongful death. Families of deceased crash victims would be well advised to contact an experienced Orange County personal injury lawyer, who will stay on top of the official investigation and ensure that the negligent parties are held liable.

A wrongful death claim, which is usually filed by the decedent’s immediate family members, seeks compensation for damages including medical expenses, funeral costs, lost future income and loss of love and companionship.