The 63-year-old city resident was taken to Marian Regional Medical Center in critical condition, CHP says
SANTA MARIA, CA, (September 08, 2024) - A Sunday morning crash in Santa Maria involving a wrong-way driver left one person dead and severely injured another, according to the authorities.
Cecilio L. Camacho, a 63-year-old Santa Maria resident, was badly injured following a two-vehicle collision along Highway 101 north of Los Alamos on Sunday morning, officials said.
It happened on the southbound Highway 101 just south of Betteravia Road, officials said. Per the California Highway Patrol officers, a Mazda CX-9 was traveling northbound in the southbound lanes of Highway 101 north of Los Alamos around 5:25 a.m. when the driver crashed into a Chevrolet Silverado. As a result of the collision, a right-front passenger of the Chevrolet sustained fatal injuries.
The deceased victim was only identified as a 53-year-old Santa Maria woman.
The Chevrolet driver, Cecilio L. Camacho, a 63-year-old resident of Santa Maria, was transported to Marian Regional Medical Center in critical condition.
Authorities arrested the Mazda’s driver, who, they say, received major injuries.
WRONG-WAY CRASH INVESTIGATION
Camacho may face a long road to recovery, and the overall process can be overwhelming. However, a skilled auto accident attorney can compassionately guide victims through this challenging time while protecting their legal rights and best interests.
NTSB statistics reveal that as many as 75% of all wrong-way crashes result from a driver getting behind the wheel while under the influence.
While the cause and liability of the crash are being investigated, Candice Bond, an experienced accident attorney and Managing Partner of Bond Legal, said it is imperative to conduct an independent investigation into cases such as this.
“In addition to the diligent work of law enforcement, an attorney can re-interview important witnesses, analyze any surveillance video from the scene of the crash, and obtain phone and texting records of the liable party,” added Bond.
PERSONAL INJURY CLAIM
Pending the investigation results, Cecilio L. Camacho may have the right to pursue a personal injury lawsuit. Bond, who is also a national legal analyst for Newsline, noted that the stress and worry following a serious injury could be overwhelming, disrupting all aspects of life, including family, work, finances, and overall quality of life.
“It is vital for victims to hire an attorney when filing a personal injury claim, which allows them to negotiate with an insurance company on behalf of a client,” she added.
“Insurance companies often try to pressure victims to settle for a quick payout for far less than the case is worth. However, an attorney will vigorously advocate for their client to ensure that they are treated with respect and compensated fairly.”
If you or a family member have been involved in a situation similar to this article and would like to speak to our national legal analyst Candice Bond free of charge, please use the contact information found on this page.
(Candice Bond, our national legal analyst, is a Managing Partner at Bond Legal. Newsline can and does use quotes from prior interviews with our analysts for our news articles. If you would like to contact Bond Legal to help you, please call 866-985-6515 or use the submission box found on this page. Legal analysts quoted may or may not be licensed in your state).