Articles Posted in Wrongful Death

November 29, 2009: 57-year-old Angelo Vacca, Jr. was in the area of 887 Forest Avenue and was crossing the road when 74-year-old Chan Ng, also of Portland, hit him with a red 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier. Police say Vacca was transported to Maine Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.

This matter is under investigation. Based on our firm’s experience in handling similar cases, the investigation will undoubtedly look into what the lighting conditions were, whether Mr. Ng was paying proper attention to the road, and whether Mr. Ng was under the influence of any alcohol or substances that would have impaired his ability to see Mr. Vacca in the road and/or delayed his reaction time. In past cases we have successfully settled on behalf of clients, we have uncovered information about drivers being on cellphones immediately prior to the collision by obtaining copies of their cellphone records.

Because this case involved a fatality, police officials will undoubtedly conduct tests to determine whether Mr. Ng was under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the collision. Although not part of standard police investigations, it is suggested that information about Mr. Ng’s vision be obtained. We found in one case where a driver claimed to be unable to see a pedestrian at night that the driver had not had his eyes examined for years and, following a court-ordered examination, was found to have poor nighttime vision. This information resulted in a favorable settlement of the case for our client.

A trailer-truck hauling wood chips and a pickup truck crashed and burst into flames on Route 26 early Monday evening. The crash occurred shortly after 5 p.m. near 122 Bethel Road near the Chowder House Restaurant. Police reports indicate that both trucks appeared to be headed north on a straightaway when the accident occurred near J & K Sporting Goods. A third vehicle was also involved. Maine State Police Sgt. Don Shead was heading up the investigation.

At this time, there is limited information on the cause of the crash. At Peter Thompson & Associates, we have investigated thousands of car crashes utilizing the very best experts in the field. It will be critical to conduct a timely investigation to preserve evidence at the accident scene and to record witness recollections of the events. Often skid marks and debris left from the vehicles will indicate not only the speed of the vehicles prior to impact, but the direction the vehicles were headed relative to each other.

A spokeswoman for Eastern Maine Medical Center said James Westerdahl, 75, of Littleton died Friday afternoon.

He was southbound in his 1999 GMC truck about 3:15 p.m. Wednesday when reportedly a tire blew out on the extended cab vehicle.

Westerdahl lost control and swerved into the northbound lane, directly into the path of an oncoming tractor-trailer truck driven by James Sprague, 57, of Nobleboro.

A fatal crash occurred on Route 1 around 11:00 pm on Thursday. Authorities say a pickup truck, driven by 32 year old Chadwick Sage crossed the center line. The pickup crashed head on with a commercial truck driven by Richard Turner of Thomaston.

Deputies say the delivery truck traveled about 150-200 feet before rolling over and bursting into flames. Turner was able to get out of the truck and was taken to Waldo County General Hospital for what authorities say were non-life threatening injuries. Sage was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police authorities are investigating this accident.