Dashawn Coleman Killed in Hawthorne Car Accident
Four-vehicle wreck at Imperial Highway and Inglewood Avenue leaves two others in extremely critical condition
Dashawn Coleman, 30, of Las Vegas, was killed in a four-vehicle crash at Imperial Highway and Inglewood Avenue in Hawthorne on May 17, according to police.
The department's Traffic Bureau assumed the investigation immediately after the 11:48 a.m. wreck. No charges have been filed.
Responding officers found four heavily damaged vehicles blocking the intersection. Paramedics extricated two people trapped in the wreckage. Four individuals were rushed to a local hospital.
Coleman was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. Two other patients remain in extremely critical condition.
How do weather conditions impact intersection safety?
Families often face confusion when weather-related factors complicate multi-vehicle collision investigations. Rain and slick roads can drastically increase stopping distances at major crossings like Imperial Highway and Inglewood Avenue.
Candice Bond, managing partner at Bond Legal, said, "Wet pavement, reduced visibility, and limited traction make intersections significantly more dangerous because drivers approaching on slick roadways often cannot stop within normal distances, turning routine crossing points into high-risk collision zones."
Legal counsel may review records, investigate the crash, and help surviving families manage funeral costs, lost income, and insurance claims after fatal roadway crashes, added Bond, who is also a national legal analyst for Accident News.
What do investigators look for in multi-vehicle crashes?
"Multi-vehicle crashes demand thorough investigation because contributing factors rarely point in a single direction. Investigators typically examine event data recorder outputs, skid-mark patterns, roadway conditions, witness accounts, and surveillance footage across every involved vehicle," noted Stefano Formica, a national legal analyst for Accident News and of counsel at Bond Legal.
Detectives will examine skid marks, traffic signal timing, and environmental conditions at the time of the wreck. California Office of Traffic Safety data indicates that adverse weather contributes to thousands of intersection crashes annually across Los Angeles County. Investigators must piece together the exact sequence of impacts to determine how the four vehicles collided.
California wrongful death statute
Under Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 377.60, surviving family members may file a wrongful death action. California applies pure comparative fault. The statute of limitations is 2 years from the date of death.
Recoverable damages may include loss of financial support, loss of companionship, funeral expenses, and the decedent's pre-death pain and suffering.