Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Fatal Pedestrian Accident at San Jose City College Claims Life of 49-Year-Old Magda Gonzalez

On August 19th at approximately 11:15 am, a woman was struck when a front loader tractor backed up onto a pedestrian walkway on the San Jose City College Campus.  Emergency personnel attempted to resuscitate the victim at the scene, before transporting her to Santa Clara Valley Medical Center.  The victim, who was later identified as 49-year-old Magda Gonzalez, passed away before reaching the hospital.  

The exact location of the accident was reported to have been between the Fine Arts and Vocational Training building on Moorepark Avenue.  A construction crew was digging in the area to gain access to an underground water valve for a campus construction project.  According to witness testimony, the area was previously surrounded by a chain link fence which not only enclosed the entire work site, but also blocked the pedestrian walkway from access.  The fence was reportedly not present on the date of the accident.  The construction companies involved in the project, the driver of the tractor, San Jose City College and possibly other persons or entities may all potentially share some of the liability for this terrible and avoidable accident. 

Based on preliminary reports, the main contractor for the construction project has been identified as Gilbane Construction.  Additionally, the subcontractor that was involved in the project has been identified as Milpitas based Preston Pipelines.  Six crew members who work for Preston Pipelines were reportedly on the job site at the time of the accident.  Preston Pipelines has a history of safety violations including past violations for improperly secured cargo.  The San Jose Police Department, San Jose Community College District Police Department, and Cal-OSHA are simultaneously conducting separate investigations to determine the exact cause of this devastating accident. 

At Matiasic Roth and Johnson LLP, we would like to express our deepest condolences to the family of Magda Gonzalez.  The loss of a loved one in a pedestrian accident is a tragedy that no family should be forced to endure.  Families who have experienced the wrongful death of a loved one are entitled to compensation for their loss.  The dedicated pedestrian accident attorneys of Matiasic Roth and Johnson LLP have over thirty years of experience advocating on behalf of pedestrian accident victims and their families.  If you or a loved one have been involved in a pedestrian accident call our office today for a free consultation.  

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