car accident attorney, compensation can be recovered from those at fault to help victims back on their feet.">A reckless driver was killed and two others seriously injured after a police chase came to an abrupt end Monday afternoon in Sierra Nevada, California. According to Officer Pete Mann from the California Highway Patrol, the ordeal began at around 1:40 p.m. in the eastbound lanes of Interstate 80 near Dutch Flat, where a patrol car came upon a BMW convertible traveling at speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour. The subsequent chase took police towards the city of Truckee before the BMW exited the freeway in an attempt to dodge the police. The BMW then reentered westbound I-80 near a construction area surrounding the Soda Springs off-ramp, where the vehicle lost control, smashed into a van owned by the California Conservation Corps and overturned. The driver of the BMW was killed in the crash, reported Mann, and two CCC workers also suffered injuries. The identity of the driver has not yet been released, as the county coroner’s office is still working to notify his next of kin. Pending their notification, more details will be released. Susanne Levitski, a spokesperson from the CCC, reported that one of the two workers injured, a 23 year old woman from Fresno, was flown to Renown Hospital in Reno, Nevada, where she is listed in stable condition. The other worker was treated for minor injuries at the scene and released. The two were working on a freeway landscaping project at the time of the accident. Following the accident, police shut down all westbound lanes for more than an hour as crews worked to remove the damaged vehicles involved from lanes. One lane was reopened at 3 p.m., though was it was again closed an hour and a half later. All lanes were expected to remain closed into the evening, creating major traffic congestion throughout the area. Drivers through the area were being rerouted from I-80 at Soda Springs to Highway 40. At this time, there is no word on why the BMW driver was driving erratically, or why he refused to yield to police. The influence of drugs or alcohol is suspected, but toxicology reports have not yet been conducted to confirm suspicions. On the highway, it is essential to drive at a reasonable speed, never exceeding the posted speed limit, as dramatic speeds make it difficult to perform even the most basic maneuvers. When an obstacle materializes, such as a landscaping van, there is little that can be done to avoid a collision. Only at slower speeds do you possess the ability to stop short or turn to avoid a dangerous accident. When you find yourself hailed by police, choosing to run is also never the correct decision, as it will only serve to increase the punishment heading your way and introduce the threat of danger. For victims who have suffered injury as a result of a reckless driver speeding or evading police, there are legal protections in place to get then what they need to recover. With the help of a car accident attorney, compensation can be recovered from those at fault to help victims back on their feet.
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