March 15, 2010 – Spice Industrial Group Inc., of City of Industry, Calif., is recalling Lian How White Sesame Seeds supplied by Specialty Commodities Corp. distributed from November 6 to December 11, 2009, because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.

The affected Lian How White Sesame Seeds packaged in 5lb white plastic bags with Specialty Commodities Corp. labels were distributed to retail markets, restaurants and wholesalers in Southern California between November 6, 2009 and December 11, 2009.

Salmonella is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.

To date, no illnesses have been associated with these products.

Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

If you or a loved one has been injured by a defective product, contact the Defective Product lawyers of the Gomez Law Firm today.

March 8, 2010 – According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defect Investigations (ODI), Gem is recalling certain Model Year 2009 Gem e2, e4, e6, eL, eL XD and eS neighborhood electric vehicles.

The parking brake cable may have been improperly crimped.  This could cause the parking brake cable to separate from the actuator handle while applied.  The vehicle could roll away on a hill creating a risk of crash or injury.

At the Gomez Law Firm, we have extensive experience representing the victims of auto defects, including roof crush, tire defects and rollovers.  If you or someone you love has been the victim of any defective product, call or write a personal injury attorney  at the Gomez Law Firm today.

March 1, 2010 – A pedestrian suffered severe injuries last night when he was struck by two vehicles, including a sheriff’s patrol car, in the High Desert city of Apple Valley, according San Bernardino County Sheriff’s officials.

The victim was airlifted to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton following the 8 p.m. accident Sunday along Highway 18 near Kiowa Road. The pedestrian was carrying no identification, investigators said. His condition is not available.

Robert Squier was driving a 2002 Mitsubishi Gallant in the eastbound fast lane of Highway 18 when the man walked in front of him, investigators said in a written statement.

“The unidentified pedestrian was struck by Squier’s vehicle and thrown into the air.  An Apple Valley deputy was traveling behind Squier ,” according to the statement. “The pedestrian was struck a second time by the passing patrol unit.”

The name of the deputy driving the patrol car was not released.

Witnesses to the accident may call Deputy Brian Zierdt at 760-240-7400.

February 26, 2010 – Shirley Whitley, 74, who was rushed to the hospital after a suspected drunken driver hit her while she was outside a crosswalk has died.

Around 7:15 p.m. Tuesday, officers with the Bakersfield Police Department responded to the 4300 block of Gosford Road regarding an injury collision, involving a 74-year-old woman.

Police said Shirley Whitley was crossing Gosford Road outside a crosswalk when she was struck by a blue Honda Civic being driven northbound by 38-year-old Ramon Lobregat III.

Whitley sustained moderate to major injuries and was transported to Kern Medical Center for treatment, police said.

On Thursday, Whitley died as a result of her injuries.

Lobregat was not injured during the collision; however, officers determined he was intoxicated when the collision occurred.

Lobregat was arrested on charges of drunken driving and booked into the Kern County Sheriff’s Main Jail.

Anyone who may have witnessed this collision is asked to contact the Bakersfield Police Department Traffic Investigation Detail at 661-326-3967.

February 26, 2010 – An elderly woman was hit crossing a street Thursday night.

It happened about 9:45 p.m. in the Midway area.  The woman was crossing Rosecrans Street near Midway Drive.  According to police, a vehicle going westbound on Rosecrans hit the victim, believed to be in her late ’70s.

She suffered serious injuries and was taken to a hospital.

Investigators don’t believe the driver was under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

February 26, 2010 – A woman was pinned under a vehicle after being struck in the Grantville area Thursday afternoon.

The incident happened shortly after 4 p.m. in front of the Kaiser Medical Center on the 4600 block of Zion Avenue.

The woman was freed from underneath the vehicle and medics tended to her injuries.  No word yet on the extent of those injuries.

February 26, 2010 – A man was fatally struck by a small school bus in front of Potter Junior High School in Fallbrook Friday morning, authorities said.

The man died at the scene after being struck in the 1700 block of Reche Road around 5:45 a.m., said California Highway Patrol Officer Ray Scheidnes.

Scheidnes says there were no students on the bus and no students outside Potter Junior High School in Fallbrook when the man was hit at 5:45 a.m. Friday.

He says the victim has not been identified and he didn’t know the status of the bus driver and whether there was a citation or arrest.

February 24, 2010 – A 43-year-old man was killed after he hopped out of a car during an argument with his girlfriend and stepped into the path of an oncoming vehicle in the rural community of Crest, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Cary Floyd Conner, of El Cajon, died at the scene of the accident at La Cresta Boulevard and Mountain View Road at 7:20 p.m. Tuesday, according to the CHP.

Conner was riding in a Toyota Corolla with his girlfriend, Donna Anselmi, as they left a convenience store parking lot, CHP Officer Brian Pennings said.

He said Conner and Anselmi were arguing as she pulled into the road to turn left. Conner reportedly opened his passenger door and got out, right in the path of a vehicle driven by Jan Burrell, 60, of El Cajon.

Burrell was unable to avoid striking Conner, who suffered major injuries, Pennings said.

February 24, 2010 – Shirley Whitley, 74, was rushed to the hospital after a suspected drunken driver hit her while she was outside the crosswalk.

Around 7:15 p.m. Tuesday, officers with the Bakersfield Police Department responded to the 4300 block of Gosford Road regarding an injury collision, involving a 74-year-old woman.

Police said Whitley was crossing Gosford Road outside a crosswalk when she was struck by a blue Honda Civic being driven northbound by 38-year-old Ramon Lobregat III.

Whitley sustained moderate to major injuries and was transported to Kern Medical Center for treatment, police said.

Lobregat was not injured during the collision; however, officers determined he was intoxicated when the collision occurred.

Lobregat was arrested on charges of drunken driving and booked into the Kern County Sheriff’s Main Jail.

Anyone who may have witnessed this collision is asked to contact the Bakersfield Police Department Traffic Investigation Detail at 661-326-3967.

February 22, 2010 – A driver suspected of hitting and killing a woman on her way to work Friday was arrested at his Encanto home Saturday.

Officers arrested Bruce Hanson, 51, who is to be booked on suspicion of felony vehicular manslaughter and hit-and-run, said San Diego Police Sgt. Steve Waldeim.

Alejandra Vazquez, 35, of San Diego, was killed as she parked her car at about 2:15 a.m. Friday near the I-805 ramps at Market Street.

A metallic-blue SUV speeding east on Market smashed into the woman as her mother watched, police said. The impact threw Vazquez across some parked vehicles, and she fell beneath the back end of a pickup.

Investigators recovered a piece of the suspect vehicle’s front end at the site.

About 9 a.m. Saturday, a worker at a salvage yard called San Diego Police to report the likely hit-and-run vehicle was there, Officer Bruce Ruff said.  Ruff said the man found the Subaru Forester with blood at the damaged front end, keys on the dash, and no license plates.

The worker had seen news accounts of the incident that included a description of the vehicle.

Ruff said a forensic evidence technician determined the Forester was the suspect vehicle.  Waldeim said investigators used the vehicle identification number to trace the registered owner’s name and address.

Hanson showed traces of minor injuries, Waldeim said.  Investigators are looking into whether alcohol may have been a factor in the incident, and the case will be forwarded to the District Attorney’s Office, he said.