Kelly Gates Injured in Jamestown Car Accident

Kelly Gates car accident on Highway 108, Jamestown, California

The 58-year-old Oakdale woman suffered major injuries when the vehicle she was riding in struck an embankment and overturned.

Kelly Gates, 58, of Oakdale, was seriously injured in a single-vehicle crash on Highway 108 near Tulloch Dam Road in Jamestown on April 12, the California Highway Patrol said.

First responders airlifted Gates to Memorial Medical Center with major injuries. The westbound 2004 Nissan 350Z drifted off the south edge of the road, hit an embankment and rolled multiple times, investigators said.

Authorities do not suspect alcohol or drugs played a role in the crash. The crash remains under investigation.

The California Highway Patrol's investigation into the single-vehicle crash that killed Gates on Highway 108 will examine several factors. The 2004 Nissan 350Z Gates was driving drifted off the road, hit an embankment, and rolled. Investigators will likely focus on the vehicle's condition, road conditions, and any potential driver actions that led to the car leaving the road.

National Legal Analyst Candice Bond, Managing Partner at Bond Legal. "Time is of the essence in cases such as this, and the victim’s family must ensure that evidence is reviewed efficiently," Bond said. This includes looking at what might have contributed to the crash, such as vehicle mechanics or environmental factors.

National Legal Analyst Stefano Formica, Of Counsel at Bond Legal. "It is vital for victims to hire an attorney when filing a personal injury claim, which allows them to negotiate with an insurance company on behalf of a client," Formica said.

What is a single-vehicle crash investigation?

How do investigators determine the cause of a vehicle drifting off the road?

What role does vehicle inspection play in the investigation?

California personal injury framework

California follows a pure comparative fault system. Injured parties may recover damages reduced by their percentage of fault. The statute of limitations is 2 years from the date of the incident.

Damages include economic losses (medical bills, lost income, rehabilitation) and non-economic losses (pain, suffering, emotional distress).

(Candice Bond, Managing Partner at Bond Legal, and Stefano Formica, Of Bond Legalsts for Accident News. Our reporting incorporates quotes from previously conducted interviews with these analysts. To contact Bond Legal, please call 866-730-6519, visit www.attorneysfortheinjured.com, or use the submission box found on this page. Quoted analysts may or may not hold a license in your jurisdiction.)