Author: Leonardo Hernandez Jr.
One minute you’re pulled over for running a stop sign; the next, you’re sitting in a cold jail cell wondering what went wrong. Many drivers don’t realize that some traffic violations can quickly escalate into misdemeanor offenses. But what exactly separates a minor infraction from a criminal charge? In this article, we’ll break down the difference between traffic violations, misdemeanors, and felonies and explain how to avoid turning a routine traffic stop into a legal nightmare. Common Types of Traffic Violations California drivers face thousands of citations every day. Running a stop sign or using the carpool lane alone might…
(San Jose, CA) Three adults were injured, two of them in critical conditions, in a Rancho Drive collision Wednesday evening in San Jose, according to police. The San Jose Police Department said the crash occurred around 5:30 p.m. on October 8 near Rancho Drive and Monterey Road. When paramedics arrived, they found three people with injuries. Emergency responders transported all three victims to nearby hospitals, where two remain in life-threatening condition. Monterey Road was closed in both directions from Capitol Expressway to Fehren Drive for several hours as investigators worked to determine what caused the crash. Police issued a traffic…
(Laguna Beach, CA) A woman suspected of being involved in a hit-and-run earlier in the day was killed Wednesday evening in a separate El Toro Road crash, according to the Laguna Beach Police Department. Officers responded shortly after 7 p.m. on October 8 to reports of a pedestrian struck by a vehicle on El Toro Road, south of the 73 Toll Road overpass. First responders treated a 46-year-old woman at the scene before transporting her to Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo. Unfortunately, doctors pronounced dead. Her name has not been released. Investigators believe the woman had been driving a U-Haul…
(Huntington Beach, CA) A Beach Boulevard collision Thursday night resulted in the death of a motorcyclist, identified as 46-year-old Martin Ramirez Jr. of Los Angeles, and a pedestrian, 46-year-old Nicholas Howell of Huntington Beach, according to the Huntington Beach Police Department. Officers responded around 8:27 p.m. on October 9 to reports of a crash near Beach Boulevard and Ellis Avenue. When they arrived, they found Ramirez and Howell on the roadway. Both were unconscious, said city spokesperson Corbin Carson. Preliminary findings indicate Ramirez rode south on Beach Boulevard when it struck Howell. The victim crossed outside of a marked crosswalk…
(Los Angeles, CA) A staff member for Los Angeles City Councilmember Katy Yaroslavsky was seriously injured in an 8th Street crash on Sunday morning after being struck by a pickup truck while walking her dog in the Miracle Mile neighborhood, authorities said. According to the Los Angeles Police Department, the collision occurred on October 7 around 8:30 a.m. near 8th Street and Cloverdale Avenue. The woman, a member of Yaroslavsky’s staff, walked her dog at the time of the incident. All of a sudden, a Toyota pickup truck, believed to have run a stop sign, hit both of them. When…
(Sacramento, CA) A woman who was struck by a vehicle in a 29th Street accident earlier this month has been identified as Alicia Barnes, 65, of Roseville, according to the Sacramento County Coroner’s Office. The Sacramento Police Department said officers responded around 6:30 p.m. on October 2. They received reports of a collision involving a pedestrian near 29th Street and K Street. They found Barnes lying on the roadway, transporting him to a nearby hospital with serious injuries. After arriving at the hospital, doctors pronounced Barnes dead. Police said the driver stayed at the scene and cooperated with investigators. At…
(Fresno, CA) Police are investigating a hit-and-run involving a pedestrian who was struck by a vehicle in a Cedar Avenue crash late Sunday night in central Fresno. Authorities said the incident occurred just after 9:30 p.m. at the intersection of Cedar and Cornell Avenues, south of Shields Avenue. The vehicle involved reportedly fled the scene before officers arrived. The victim sustained moderate injuries, paramedics transporting them to Community Regional Medical Center, police said. Authorities believe the suspect vehicle to be a dark-colored 2016–2018 sedan, but no description of the driver has been released. Investigators continue to review evidence, asking anyone…
(San Rafael, CA) A crash temporarily blocked all southbound lanes in a Highway 101 accident in San Rafael on Monday evening, according to the California Highway Patrol. CHP officers responded just before 5 p.m. to reports of a collision on southbound Highway 101, south of Freitas Parkway. Authorities closed all lanes as emergency crews arrived and began clearing the scene. By 5:40 p.m., Caltrans reported that the two right lanes had reopened, while the left lanes remained closed for cleanup and inspection. Police fully reopened all lanes shortly before 6 p.m. It remains unclear how many vehicles were involved or…
(Chula Vista, CA) A 77-year-old man was struck and killed early Wednesday morning in a L Street crash in Chula Vista, authorities said. The collision occurred around 6:30 a.m. in the 600 block of L Street. Upon investigating, authorities learned a 2014 Toyota Corolla traveling eastbound struck a pedestrian. The victim stood in the roadway at the time of the crash, according to Chula Vista Police Officer Carson Tabor. Emergency responders arrived quickly but pronounced the man dead at the scene. His name has not yet been released pending notification of his family. The driver of the Corolla remained at…
(Encinitas, CA) A 64-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence following a South Coast Highway 101 collision in Encinitas on Wednesday evening that left a young boy injured, authorities said. Deputies from the North Coastal Sheriff’s Station responded around 5:59 p.m. on October 8 to reports of a two-vehicle crash and a pedestrian injury near the intersection of South Coast Highway 101 and West D Street, according to Sgt. Kristy Trampus. Investigators said a 2026 Chevrolet Silverado, driven by Edward De La Torre, traveled north on Highway 101. All of a sudden, it rear-ended a Toyota…