Fillmore: Driver Crashed into Starbucks, Killed Sergio Mendez
At about 7 p.m. on Tuesday, December 13th, a driver crashed into a Fillmore Starbucks and killed 30-year-old Sergio Mendez. While traveling in an SUV westbound on Ventura Street, 30-year-old Michael Cedarland swerved south across opposing lanes of traffic, struck two curbs, and slammed into the coffee shop. The SUV pinned Mendez to the wall near the front door. Using the Jaws of Life, firefighters extricated Mendez from the wreckage. He was transported to Ventura County Medical Center, where he succumbed to his injuries. Although authorities do not believe drugs or alcohol contributed to the accident, they are investigating whether a loss of consciousness caused Cedarland to lose control of the vehicle, explains a California personal injury lawyer.
Fillmore accounted for none of the 50 fatalities and 37 of the 4,259 injuries suffered by motor vehicle occupants in Ventura County in 2009, according to the California Highway Patrol’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System. Traffic fatalities in the state decreased by 10.3 percent, from 3,434 in 2008 to 3,081 in 2009.
All of us at Allen, Flatt, Ballidis, and Leslie would like to offer our condolences to the family of Sergio Mendez, the man who was killed when the driver crashed through the Fillmore Starbucks last Tuesday.
The Ventura County Star originally reported this accident.
Resources for accident victims and their families, including books and articles on the process of pursuing an injury or a wrongful death claim, are available to the public free of charge.
If you would like to request one of these free resources, or to speak with a California personal injury lawyer, feel free to call 866-981-5596.
