Deadly wreck happened in the area of Santa Fe Grade and West Shaw Avenue, CHP says
FIREBAUGH, CA, (August 31, 2024) - Two people lost their lives when their ATV crashed into a parked trailer in Firebaugh Saturday morning, according to the Los Banos California Highway Patrol.
Guadalupe Ruiz Pina, 22, and the operator of the ATV on which she was riding as a passenger were both killed in a crash in Firebaugh Saturday morning, according to Highway Patrol.
The Fresno County Coroner’s Office identified one of the victims as Guadalupe Ruiz Pina.
A preliminary investigation found that a 2023 Yamaha Raptor Quad was traveling at a high rate of speed when it slammed into the right rear of a parked trailer around 6 a.m. in the area of Santa Fe Grade and West Shaw Avenue. The ATV operator and his passenger, 22-year-old Pina, were ejected and died at the scene due to injuries.
No further information about the tragic incident was immediately available.
Authorities are investigating.
CRASH INVESTIGATION NEEDED
ATVs are fun and exciting for recreation and have become more and more popular in the U.S.
During that time, there has also been a rise in ATV-related accidents, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Approximately 135,000 people are injured in ATV accidents each year, and 700 are killed.
Candice Bond, an experienced ATV accident attorney, said that crashes such as this can occur for a variety of reasons, including inexperienced drivers, failure to obey laws and safety guidelines, reckless driving, driving in unfamiliar terrain, and driving under the influence.
“Time is of the essence in cases such as this, and the family of a victim must ensure that evidence is reviewed in an efficient manner,” said Bond, Managing Partner at Bond Legal.
WRONGFUL DEATH CLAIM
Pending the investigation, the family members of Guadalupe Ruiz Pina may be entitled to a wrongful death claim. Family members of wrongful death victims may seek damages for loss of companionship, pain and suffering, and emotional distress following a catastrophic accident such as this incident.
“The stress and sorrow can be extremely overwhelming after losing a loved one in an accident,” said Stefano Formica, Of Counsel with Bond Legal.
“We understand just what families are forced to go through, and having their rights protected is vital. A wrongful death lawyer will stay updated on the official investigation and help ensure that their legal rights and best interests are protected."
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(Candice Bond, Managing Partner, and Stefano Formica, Of Counsel, at Bond Legal, are the national legal analysts for Newsline. 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).