A tragic motorcycle accident has led to a lawsuit alleging negligence and wrongful death. On June 7, 2024, Kaylee Crist filed a complaint in the Superior Court of California, County of Sacramento, against Ruben Diaz, Kilver Carrillo, Kimberly Garcia, Ingrid Leyva, and unnamed defendants for their alleged roles in the fatal accident that claimed the life of her father, Edward Vance Crist.
According to the complaint, on January 12, 2014, Edward Vance Crist was lawfully operating his motorcycle on Watt Avenue at the intersection with Hurley Way in Sacramento County when he was struck by a vehicle driven by Ruben Diaz. The plaintiff alleges that Diaz and other defendants were negligent in their operation of the vehicle—a 1998 Nissan Frontier—by failing to obey traffic laws and signals. The complaint states that "Defendants owed a duty to use ordinary care in the operation of a motor vehicle," which they allegedly breached by not paying attention to the roadway and traffic conditions.
The plaintiff's case hinges on multiple allegations against all named defendants. Kaylee Crist asserts that Diaz and others were negligent in various capacities such as owning, leasing, renting, entrusting, managing, maintaining, operating, controlling, repairing, and driving the vehicle involved in the collision. She further claims that this negligence directly resulted in her father's death. The complaint highlights violations of specific California Vehicle Code sections designed to protect individuals like Edward Vance Crist from such accidents.
In addition to detailing how each defendant contributed to the incident through their actions or omissions while acting within their respective roles or relationships (such as agents or employees), Kaylee Crist also underscores her personal loss. She describes how she benefited from her father's love, companionship, comfort, care, assistance, protection, affection, society moral support training guidance financial support gifts benefits household services provided by Decedent Edward Vance Crist.
Kaylee Crist is seeking general damages exceeding $35,000 for loss of love and companionship from her father. She also seeks compensation for financial support that would have been provided by her father during his lifetime expectancy as well as gifts or benefits expected from him along with reasonable value household services provided by him according proof time trial together interest pre-judgment interest lawful legal rate incidental consequential damages presently unknown but will seek leave court plead prove these damages according proof time trial together interest pre-judgment interest lawful legal rate.
The case is being handled by attorneys John N. Demas and Richard J. Paikoff from Demas Law Group P.C., representing Kaylee Crist. The filing is before Judge B. Prasad under Case No. #400117 SB0.