A tragic car accident has led to a wrongful death lawsuit filed in the Superior Court of California, County of Sacramento. On August 8, 2024, Ayman Alhazaymeh, Maali Alshwayyat, and their minor child I.A., represented by attorneys Thomas S. Feher and Alex Ballard of Feher Law, APC, and Sam Nordean of Nordean Law, APC, filed a complaint against Wesley Higashi, Cassandrea Lacombe, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), the State of California, and unnamed defendants.
The case stems from a devastating collision on July 20, 2023. According to the plaintiffs' account detailed in the filing, Ayman Alhazaymeh was driving westbound on U.S. Route 50 with his family when their vehicle was struck due to the alleged negligent actions of Higashi and Lacombe. The complaint states that Lacombe was driving at approximately eighty-seven miles per hour in a fifty-five miles-per-hour construction zone when she made an unsafe lane change causing her vehicle to be rear-ended. This impact caused her car to veer off the road and collide with the plaintiffs' vehicle. Simultaneously, Higashi was also speeding at ninety-one miles per hour and failed to maintain control of his vehicle which contributed to the crash.
The collision resulted in severe injuries for Ayman Alhazaymeh and Maali Alshwayyat while tragically ejecting their nine-year-old son Abdelkarim Alhazaymeh from the vehicle leading to his death on-site due to multiple blunt force injuries. The plaintiffs argue that Caltrans and the State of California failed in their duty to maintain safe road conditions by not installing necessary barriers along U.S. Route 50 that could have prevented such an incident.
The plaintiffs are seeking various forms of relief including general damages for personal injury and wrongful death as well as punitive damages aimed at punishing the defendants for their alleged negligence. They also seek compensation for medical expenses incurred due to injuries sustained during the accident along with property damage costs.
Attorneys Thomas S. Feher and Alex Ballard from Feher Law APC alongside Sam Nordean from Nordean Law APC represent the plaintiffs in this case presided over by Judge V. Bloxson under Case No: 2402 YO1T5 905.