Head-on collision involving race car kills 1 in California

A two-person vehicle was hit head-on by a rare sports car in Rancho Santa Fe. The Dec. 24 accident took place around 2:00 p.m. and killed one person. At the time of reporting, the California Highway Patrol did not determine if the collision was caused by racing.

A 21-year-old man from Rancho Santa Fe lost control of his Ariel Atom while driving west on La Orilla, and the vehicle went into the eastbound lane while navigating a curve and struck a Ford Expedition head-on. The SUV contained a 62-year-old man and woman from San Diego, and they were taken to Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla after suffering minor to moderate injuries.

The driver of the Ariel Atom and his 21-year-old Mira Messa passenger both wore helmets; the passenger suffered severe injuries and went to Palomar Medical Center in Escondido by helicopter. The driver was taken to the Scripps La Jolla hospital and died on Dec. 25. The speed limit in the area where the crash occurred is 40 miles per hour, and it is unknown how fast the Ariel traveled at the time of the collision. The vehicle is reportedly one of the fastest cars that is also street-legal.

Those who are injured in a wreck caused by a negligent driver may still be entitled to compensation even when the responsible party is deceased. A personal injury claim can be filed against an at-fault driver's estate, and this could allow victims to recover expenses from medical bills and lost wages. One may wish to consult an attorney when considering a suit in civil court.

Source: UT San Diego , "Sports car driver critically injured in Rancho Santa Fe crash", Susan Shroder, December 24, 2014