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A California Highway Patrol (CHP) officer was hospitalized Thursday after his patrol car was struck by a vehicle on I-15. The officer was stopped in the center divider helping a driver who had been in a collision and providing traffic control. A Mazda 6 in the northbound lane lost control on the wet roadway. The vehicle spun out and struck the back of the patrol car.
The Mazda driver, an 18-year-old female, was not injured in the collision. The CHP officer was taken to St. Mary’s Medical Center for an injury to his back.
Police shut down the No. 1 and No. 2 lanes for about an hour while they cleared the scene and investigated. According to the initial investigation, the Mazda 6 driver was driving too fast for the wet road conditions. This likely led to her losing control of her vehicle.
According to the Federal Highway Administration, weather is a factor in about 22% of the 5,748,000 crashes that occur annually. A majority of these weather-related crashes are due to wet pavement and/or rainfall.
Drive Safely in the Rain
Follow these AAA 5 safety tips for driving in the rain:
- Turn your headlights on so other drivers can easily see you through the rainfall.
- Make sure your tires have enough tread and air. Also be sure to check your pressure regularly in the colder months.
- Don’t use cruise control, as it increases your chance of losing control of the vehicle.
- Slow down and avoid hard braking and sharp turns. Keeping a safe distance between your vehicle and the one ahead of you will help you avoid having to make these quick movements.
- If you do skid because of the wet pavement, don’t panic. Continue steering your vehicle in the direction you need to go and avoid slamming on the brakes, which will actually make it harder to control the vehicle.
“It’s difficult to get good practice driving in the rain when you live in the desert, which can make it tough for drivers when we do experience adverse weather. Fortunately, most of these safety tips apply no matter what the weather. If drivers can practice slowing down, making themselves visible to other drivers, and focusing on the road, they will be better off when the rain comes,” said Attorney Walter Clark, founder of Walter Clark Legal Group.
Our firm has been handling personal injury cases throughout the California Low Desert and High Desert communities for over 30 years. With a 95% success rate, the California personal injury attorneys at Walter Clark Legal Group will fight to hold those responsible for your loss accountable and win compensation to cover medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. If you have been injured in an auto accident and want to discuss your legal options, contact us today for a free consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer. We have offices in Indio, Rancho Mirage, Victorville, and Yucca Valley and represent clients through the entire California Low Desert and High Desert communities.
DISCLAIMER: The Walter Clark Legal Group blog is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended as legal or medical advice. References to laws are based on general legal practices and vary by location. Information reported comes from secondary news sources. We do handle these types of cases, but whether or not the individuals and/or loved ones involved in these accidents choose to be represented by a law firm is a personal choice we respect. Should you find any of the information incorrect, we welcome you to contact us with corrections.
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