According to authorities, four people were hospitalized Dec. 26 after a series of collisions on Edwards Street and Mar Vista Drive in Huntington Beach. The incident occurred at around 10:54 a.m. near the Westminster Mall after a 74-year-old man failed to stop his car and hit another car at an intersection. An additional vehicle and a motorcycle were also struck as a result of the accident.

The car that was driven by the 74-year-old man landed upside down and caught on fire after the collision. The man was trapped inside and had to be extracted from the vehicle, according to the Orange County Fire Authority Captain. The 74-year-old man was taken to a hospital and treated for critical injuries.

The driver who had been stopped at the intersection was treated at UCI Medical Center in Orange, and the motorcyclist sustained minor injuries. Two women in the third vehicle involved in the crash were transported to a hospital with mild injuries. The Huntington Beach Police closed surrounding streets for several hours to conduct an accident reconstruction, and Edwards Street remained closed until later that evening.

Authorities are unsure whether drugs or alcohol was a factor that contributed to the collision or if there was a medical condition that caused it. Other possibilities such as defective auto parts or distracted driving could also be factors. In a case like this where a series of car accidents has caused multiple injuries, it is possible that the injured parties may wish to recover compensation for medical bills and lost wages. A police reconstruction report would help in identifying the liable party in the event of a personal injury lawsuit.

Source: Orange County Register, “Multi-car crash in Huntington Beach sends four to hospital, closes streets for hours“, Alma Fausto , December 19, 2014