California Highway Patrol (CHP) police reports state that 81-year-old Jesse Gonzalez, army veteran of the Vietnam and Korean Wars, was killed in a car accident with another Korean War veteran in Fresno Monday.
The CHP report indicates that Gonzalez ran through a stop sign at the intersection of Olive and Blythe streets while Andy Ramirez, also a veteran of the Korean War, was entering the intersection at the same time.
“He’s going to stop. He’s going to stop. He didn’t. He just came right by and I slammed right into him,” Ramirez said. The connection between the two veterans, although they were strangers, is apparent. “Tell (Gonzalez’s family) to forgive me for what happened. It wasn’t intentional or anything like that. Like I said I’m not use to taking people’s lives away. It just happened.”
The accident happened just as Gonzalez was leaving the site where he took part in Memorial Day services.
As a Fresno car accident attorney, it truly saddens me when I read about something like this. All deaths resulting from car accidents are tragic, but there’s a special kind of grief attached to a veteran’s death. To keep everyone safe on the road, make sure that you are constantly aware of your surroundings. Mr. Ramirez did just that, but still had an accident. This is the importance of vehicular safety. If you have been injured in a car accident, contact a local car accident lawyer to discuss your case and learn about your legal options.
