A 36-year-old California man was killed in a car accident that happened on the way to his brother’s wedding rehearsal dinner. The accident happened in Agoura Hills while the man and his wife were en route to the diner. The incident has left his family in tears and disbelief.
The crash happened at approximately 5 p.m. on a recent Friday evening on Kanan Dume Road and Mulholland Highway. The couple was in the process of making a left-hand turn when a Los Angeles County fire engine came up from behind them and unsuccessfully tried to pass them on the left. The truck hit the bride and groom’s vehicle and dragged it off the road.
The force of the fire engine striking the vehicle was enormous, and the groom was pronounced dead at the scene. His wife transported to the helicopter.
Eyewitnesses have reported that the fire engine may have been traveling at a high rate of speed. Its lights and sirens were on as it came upon the couple from behind. According to the deceased man’s family, there was no reason for the fire truck to be traveling so quickly, and that the engine should have given traffic a chance to get out of the way.
The Los Angeles County Fire Department has expressed its sadness over the death of the man and has extended their thoughts and prayers to the family.
The drivers of government vehicles — including fire trucks, ambulance, and police cars — must use caution when their lights and sirens are on. Although the sirens are intended to allow these vehicles to pass safely through traffic, if a police car, fire truck or ambulance causes a deadly accident due to negligence, family members of the deceased may wish to investigate the viability of pursuing wrongful death-related damages in court.