The driver of a 2012 BMW 3 Series that went off the roadway on Highway 12 in the Santa Rosa area of California was identified on Wednesday, July 8th. The updated reports of the car accident revealed her name as Fran Cordova, 64, a city resident.
The California Highway Patrol said that two witnesses placed the victim’s speed at over 65 miles per hour before the accident. Cordova was near Dutton Avenue when she lost control of the BMW, drifted into the right shoulder, and slammed into a metal guardrail. She then struck two trees before resting off the side of the freeway.
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The preliminary investigation revealed that the woman was trying to merge from the left lane to the right as she approached another car in front of her. The collision shaved off 20 feet of metal from the guardrail and left the victim who was wearing a seatbelt, trapped in the vehicle.
Emergency responders extricated Cordova from the BMW and tried to revive her, but she died at the scene a little after 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, July 7th. The CHP is awaiting a toxicology test to determine if the woman was under the influence of an intoxicating substance. There is no additional information.
Speed is one of the leading causes of crash-related deaths, and it is often an offshoot of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Law enforcement and traffic agencies advise drivers to operate within the speed limit when in transit to prevent crashes and adverse legal consequences.
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