According to ABC7, an 18-year-old woman was killed Tuesday night when the car in which she was a passenger slammed into barriers in a Westminster construction zone, authorities said. The vehicle’s three other occupants were hospitalized.
Officers responded shortly after 9:30 p.m. to the single-vehicle collision in the area of Westminster Boulevard and Rancho Road, police said.
After crashing into concrete K-rails that surrounded the construction site, the car had ended up perched over an open trench.
Orange County firefighter-paramedics extricated the driver and three passengers from the vehicle.
The passenger in the front seat was pronounced dead at the scene, Westminster police said. The victim was identified as 18-year-old Jayda Jean Feeney, according to Orange County Sheriff’s Sgt. Scott Steinle. The three injured people inside of the car were taken to local trauma centers, the Orange County Fire Authority said.
The 18-year-old driver, who underwent emergency surgery, was expected to remain hospitalized for another eight to 10 days, Commander Kevin MacCormick of the Westminster Police Department told the Orange County Register.
The other two victims, who are 16, also underwent surgery following the crash, he said.
“It is unknown at this time if alcohol or drugs played a role in the cause of this collision,” the Westminster Police Department said in a statement.
We extend our deepest condolences to the friends and family of the victims and wish a quick recovery for others involved in this crash during this very difficult time.
When individuals are harmed or killed in traffic accidents, and another party is at fault, full compensation is not always granted, despite the circumstances. Skilled legal representation from a car or truck accident attorney is typically a must in these situations.
Photo credit: abc7.com
Legal Defenders at the Law Offices of Burg and Brock has helped countless families and individuals obtain the compensation they need to deal with expenses and move on with their lives. For a police report or other information, call us today at (818) 405-9091.
What California law says after a car accident
Who may bring a wrongful death claim in California
When a collision results in death, California law allows specific family members to bring a wrongful death claim. The categories are defined by statute and generally include a surviving spouse or domestic partner, children, and, where there is no surviving spouse or issue, others who would be entitled to the property of the person who died. Certain dependents, including a putative spouse, stepchildren, or parents who were financially dependent, may also qualify.
A wrongful death claim compensates surviving family members for their own losses, including financial support, funeral and burial expenses, and the loss of the companionship, guidance, and society the person provided.
A separate claim, called a survival action, covers losses the person themselves sustained before death, such as medical expenses and lost earnings. California law changed here. For survival actions filed on or after January 1, 2026, damages for the decedent’s own pain, suffering, or disfigurement are no longer recoverable. Cases filed before that date are not affected, and different rules can apply in elder abuse matters.
Eligibility depends on family circumstances, filing deadlines are strict, and the damages available depend in part on when a case is filed.
Reporting requirements after a California collision
California imposes reporting duties on drivers that are separate from any insurance claim.
A report must be filed with the DMV on form SR-1 within ten days of a collision that caused any injury, any death, or more than one thousand dollars in property damage to any one person. This duty applies regardless of fault, applies even when police responded and wrote their own report, and is not satisfied by notifying an insurance company. With current repair costs, most collisions that involve a body shop meet the damage threshold.
A separate rule covers collisions causing injury or death. The driver must make a written report to the California Highway Patrol, or to the city police department where the collision happened in a city, within twenty four hours. The statute states this duty for every injury or fatal collision. In practice, where officers responded and completed a report at the scene, that report generally satisfies the agency’s need, but a driver who assumes this without confirming it is relying on practice rather than on the text of the law.
Missing the DMV deadline can lead to suspension of driving privileges, an outcome unrelated to who caused the collision.
Information for Families After a Fatal Collision
Losing a family member in a collision raises urgent legal questions, often long before anyone feels ready to ask them. These guides set out the basics, with no obligation attached.
- California wrongful death attorney: who may file, the deadlines that apply, and what a claim covers
- Los Angeles car accident lawyer: fault, insurance offers, and what a claim is worth
- All practice areas