Patrick Deon Donelson, 41, died at the scene of a Los Angeles car accident the afternoon of July 9, 2009. According to a news report in the San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Donelson was westbound on Amar Road near Meadow Pass Road in Walnut when his car struck a light pole. He was the only occupant of the car. The cause of this fatal car crash is not yet known.

I offer my deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Patrick Deon Donelson for their tragic and heartbreaking loss. Please keep them in your prayers.

According to California Highway Patrol's 2007 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there was one fatal car accident and 53 injuries reported as a result of car accidents in Walnut. In Los Angeles County, in 2007, 712 fatalities and 56,475 injuries were reported that involved car accidents.

The news report also states that Donelson is the third fatality on that part of Amar Road in just the last 15 months. In April, 21-year-old Jennifer Marie Garcia died when the car she rode in with three friends struck a tree in the center median on westbound Amar Road near Braes River Drive. In April 2008, 30-year-old Wilfred Quicon Sabas died in a motorcycle accident near the same intersection when he lost control of his motorcycle.

In this particular case, it is not clear why Donelson lost control of his car. There are many unanswered questions here. Did this California car accident occur because of a dangerous condition on the roadway or a defectively designed roadway? Was there a product defect or mechanical malfunction in Donelson's car? What brand and model car was he driving at the time? Was there any other vehicle involved--is it possible that another vehicle ran him off the roadway?

An experienced Los Angeles car accident attorney will help the Donelson family make sense of this horrific car crash. A skilled personal injury lawyer will also look into whether a dangerous or defective roadway caused or contributed to this car crash. If that was the case the city or governmental agency responsible for maintaining that roadway could also be held liable. Please remember that any claim against a California governmental agency must be properly filed within 180 days of the accident or injury. In cases where negligence or wrongdoing is involved, families of deceased car accident victims may be able to file wrongful death claims. Such claims compensate the victims' families for medical or funeral expenses, loss of earnings, loss of companionship and related damages.

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