07/09/2010 // San Francisco, CA, USA // Mary Alexander // Mary Alexander – Bay Area CA Injury Lawyer
Bay Area CA Injury Lawyer News—An Ohio couple’s vacation to San Francisco came to an abrupt and tragic end before it even had a chance to begin. The pair suffered fatal injuries when the taxi they were riding in crashed and burst into flames en route to their hotel. The deadly cab wreck occurred as the vehicle attempted to exit Interstate 280 at the Mariposa Street off-ramp on Monday morning, June 14, 2010. Authorities from the California Highway Patrol (CHP) were expected to focus on the cab driver, who was placed under criminal investigation after the fatal crash, as reported by the San Francisco Chronicle.
According to reports, 49-year-old cabdriver Fageh Hassan Behbahani picked up the vacationing couple at San Francisco International Airport before 11 a.m. The husband and wife were identified as 61-year-old Dennis Marshall and 59-year-old Karen Marshall. As Behbahani traveled along U.S. Route 101 he reportedly smelled smoke pervading the vehicle. His passengers allegedly smelled the smoky odor as well. However, Behbahani did not immediately pull over after smelling smoke in his Dodge Intrepid cab.
The cabdriver then pulled into the northbound lanes of Interstate 280 but decided to take the Mariposa Street off-ramp when the stench failed to disappear. As he neared the base of the I-280 off-ramp, he pressed down on his brakes. In spite of this, his vehicle would not come to a stop. The DeSoto Cab Co. taxi consequently smashed into a chain-link fence, subsequently careening into a freeway support pillar at 40 mph. The cab violently caught fire on impact. Three deputies from the San Francisco Sheriff’s Department noticed the burning DeSoto cab and quickly rushed over to free its occupants.
All three police officers were transported to area hospitals to be treated for smoke inhalation and burns sustained in their sudden rescue mission. Behbahani was also hospitalized after the crash, but was released later that day. The Cincinnati couple, on the other hand, was not so fortunate. While Karen Marshall was pronounced dead at the scene, Dennis Marshall succumbed to his traumatic injuries at San Francisco General Hospital. According to CHP Officer Shawn Chase, “We need to determine if an average person would have pulled over right away… Maybe if there was heavy traffic, or he couldn’t get to exits, or there’s another explanation. But if people are all smelling smoke in the car, and you continue to drive for 2 miles, maybe pulling over right away is the prudent thing to do.” Investigations continue.
Leading Bay Area auto accident lawyer Mary Alexander, states if you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a motor vehicle accident, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries and damages. With more than 25 years of experience litigating the multifaceted personal injury claims of accident victims and their families, contacting the adept trial firm of Mary Alexander & Associates may help you obtain the compensation you deserve.
Bay Area personal injury news by San Francisco injury attorney
Mary Alexander
44 Montgomery Street, Suite 1303
San Francisco, CA 94104
Phone: (866) 802-9497
Website: MaryAlexanderLaw.com
Media Information:
Address: 44 Montgomery St., San Francisco, CA
Phone: (866) 802-9497
Url: http://bayareaaccidentlawyer.visionsmartnews.com/vacationing-couple-killed-in-fiery-sf-cab-crash_1287.html
