Shirley Juarez Accident; Killed in Lompoc Pedestrian Collision

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Miriam Estrada is suspected of hit-and-run, reckless driving, and DUI in the death of a local woman who was run-over in front of her home.

Lompoc, CA, May 25, 2022 — Shirley Cavazos Juarez has been identified by authorities as the victim in a deadly pedestrian collision that occurred on May 23 in Lompoc. Miriam Aidee Vela Estrada has been charged in connection with the incident. Shirley Juarez, a 50-year-old local resident, has stopped in front of her home in the J/K alley next to Laurel Avenue when the incident began. At about 10:00 p.m., authorities allege say that she was struck by a speeding vehicle driven by Miriam Estrada, authorities say. Authorities allege that the vehicle also damaged gas and water lines, a fence, and possibly part of the building nearby and was being driven in a dangerously reckless manner. First responders arrived and took Shirley Juarez to an area hospital, but she tragically died from her injuries. Miriam Aidee Vela Estrada reportedly survived unhurt and fled her vehicle on foot. Authorities say she was quickly found and arrested on multiple charges, including gross vehicular manslaughter as well as felony DUI and hit-and-run. The Lompoc Police Department is asking for help from any witnesses as well as any neighbors who may have security footage of the tragic incident as the investigation into the deadly incident continues.

We extend our deepest condolences to the friends and family of Shirley Cavazos Juarez 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 accident attorney is typically a must in these situations. 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.

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 pedestrian 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.

Right of way rules for people walking and cycling

California drivers must yield to a pedestrian crossing in a crosswalk, and a crosswalk exists at most intersections whether or not it is painted. Drivers approaching a pedestrian in a crosswalk must also slow down or take other care for that person’s safety. Pedestrians in turn must not leave a curb so suddenly that a driver cannot yield.

Since the 2023 change commonly called the Freedom to Walk Act, an officer generally may not stop a pedestrian for crossing outside a crosswalk unless there is an immediate danger of a collision. That change limits enforcement; it does not remove the pedestrian’s duty to use care, and in a civil case that duty still counts when fault is divided.

A related rule addresses visibility. Parking is prohibited within twenty feet of the approach side of any crosswalk, marked or unmarked, and within fifteen feet where a curb extension is present. A vehicle parked in that zone can hide a person stepping into the roadway from an approaching driver, and since January 2025 the restriction is enforceable whether or not the curb is painted.

For bicycles, the Three Feet for Safety Act requires a driver passing a cyclist travelling in the same direction to leave at least three feet of clearance, and where another lane in the same direction is available and it is practicable and lawful, to change lanes before passing. Where three feet is not possible, the driver must slow to a reasonable and prudent speed and pass only when it would not endanger the cyclist.

Being outside a crosswalk, or not wearing a helmet, does not by itself establish that a pedestrian or cyclist was legally at fault. Under California’s comparative fault rule, those facts are weighed alongside everything else that happened.

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.