San Diego, CA — November 11, 2024, one person was killed in a truck accident at about 6 p.m. on Kearny Villa Road in Miramar.
Police said a Toyota Highlander was hit by a Ford F-450 flatbed truck as it was attempting to turn left onto Kearny Villa Road near the ramp to State Route 163. The collision forced the Toyota into a traffic light post, knocking it to the ground.
The 66-year-old woman who was driving the Toyota died after being taken to a local hospital, authorities said. Her name has not been released at this time.
There is no indication the 49-year-old woman driving the Ford was injured, but authorities reportedly have ruled out alcohol as a factor in the crash.
The crash is still under investigation by authorities.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
This crash raises questions about right-of-way, driver responsibility and potential contributing factors. There are the issues that I see, based on my experience in commercial vehicle litigation:
Right-of-Way: A central issue is which driver had the right-of-way. Left-turn collisions often involve disputes about whether the turning vehicle misjudged the speed or distance of the oncoming traffic or whether the oncoming driver was speeding.
Driver Behavior: Investigators must assess whether either driver was distracted or failed to react appropriately. The Ford driver’s speed, attentiveness and actions leading up to the crash will be critical.
Vehicle Dynamics: The severity of the crash may indicate excessive speed or delayed braking on the part of the Ford driver. Examining skid marks and engine control module (ECM) information will be essential.
Intersection and Road Design: Was the intersection poorly designed or inadequately marked? If sightlines, signage or signal timing were deficient, this could have contributed to the collision.
Alcohol and Impairment: Authorities ruled out alcohol as a factor, but distraction, fatigue or other forms of impairment (such as medical conditions) should still be investigated.
A thorough investigation is essential to determine the sequence of events and identify any negligence in this crash, but in my experience authorities often do not have the training, equipment or training to properly all of the questions that come with commercial vehicle accidents like this. They tend to be focused on clearing wrecked vehicles from the road to restore traffic flow. That is why independent investigations sometimes are needed to help families comes to terms with what happened at the scene of a fatal accident.
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