Authorities have identified two victims of a fatal Fresno car accident as 23-year-old Bryan Banister, a firefighter from Ventura County and 21-year-old Rigoberto Gomez Cortez, a Good Samaritan who stopped to help fill gas in Banister's pickup truck.

The tragic car accident that took the lives of these two young men occurred on the 5 Freeway in the Coalinga area on November 9, 2009, the Ventura County Star reports. It happened when 62-year-old Cynthia Merrit rammed her Chevy Tahoe SUV into Banister's pickup truck, which was parked on the shoulder of the freeway. A woman in the truck, 23-year-old Christy McCallson, was not injured. Alcohol or drugs were apparently not a factor in this case, though police are still investigating the cause of this fatal crash.

I offer my deepest condolences to the families of Bryan Banister and Rigoberto Gomez. This must be a devastating blow for both families. This is truly a tragedy. These young victims and their families will certainly be in my prayers.

Car Accidents in Fresno, California

There were 12 injuries involving car accidents in Coalinga, according to California Highway Patrol's 2007 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS). Countywide, 141 deaths and 3,783 injuries were reported as a result of car accidents in 2007.

If I were a member of the victims' families, I would certainly want to know what caused the driver, Cynthia Merrit, to lose control of the SUV and hit the men. There are many reasons why this could have happened. Merrit may simply, have not been paying attention to her surroundings. She may have been distracted or driving negligently at the time. If it is determined that negligence caused this tragic accident, Merrit could be held liable for the fatal injuries.

An Experienced Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help

It would be in the best interest of injured victims in such cases or their families to get in touch with a reputed Fresno personal injury attorney, who will keep up with the official investigation and make sure that the negligent parties are held responsible for their actions. Where negligence or wrongdoing is involved, families of deceased victims may be able to file a wrongful death claim to seek compensation for funeral expenses, lost earnings and other related damages.

We are not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call a reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free confidential consultation to "not a fault" persons named in this article and their family members.

Bookmark and Share