Family of Deadly 134 Freeway Crash Victims Sue State

By City News Service

The heirs of a La Puente family who lost four members in a crash last year on the Ventura (134)  Freeway in Eagle Rock filed a wrongful death suit against the state Friday.

Salvador Alvarado Ramirez, 40, was killed in the crash, along with his wife, 38-year-old Veronica Ramirez, and his daughter, 11-year-old Jackylin Ramirez, said Lt. Fred Corral of the Los Angeles County Coroner's Investigation Division. Ramirez's father, 56-year-old Rafael Ramirez-Rodriguez, died later at a hospital, Corral said.

The family was heading home Aug. 12, 2012, from Fresno when their left tire blew about 6:50 p.m., causing their 1999 Ford Expedition to roll over the edge of the center divider of the freeway, falling 36 feet, authorities said.

The accident occurred just west of Figueroa Street.

Two of the couple's other daughters, Lesley Ramirez, now 16, and Jocelyn Ramirez, now 7, sustained serious injuries. They are among the plaintiffs in the suit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court.

Along with the state Department of Transportation, the complaint names Ford Motor Co., BF Goodrich and tire retailers Glen's Tires and Discount Tire Co.

The heirs seek unspecified damages. Their complaint alleges the two rear tires on the vehicle were defective and blew out and that the roadway was defectively designed, causing the SUV to roll up on an embankment where there were no guardrails or beams.

The suit also alleges Ford did not equip the SUV with a safe stability system.

A representative of Caltrans could not be immediately reached.