A woman who was fatally injured in a Modesto car accident the night of May 21, 2010 has been identified as 54-year-old Roselyn Mayen. The Modesto Bee reports that Mayen was a passenger in a 1994 Chevy SUV whose driver lost control and crashed on Highway 99. The SUV with seven people suddenly went off the shoulder of the roadway and rolled down an embankment. Mayen died at a local hospital while 41-year-old Alfredo Caballero, another passenger, was transported to a hospital with serious injuries. An investigation is ongoing.

I offer my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Roselyn Mayen for their heartbreaking and sudden loss. I truly hope Caballero has not sustained catastrophic injuries and pray that he recovers quickly and completely from his major injuries.
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Over the last two years, numerous defective product recalls have been issued for drop-side cribs in the United States. According to an Associated Press news report, since 2000, at least 32 infants have suffocated and died in products that have proven to be virtual death traps. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued a safety alert for these types of cribs. Federal officials have also promised to come up with a regulation by the end of 2010 that will ban the manufacture and sale of drop-side cribs and come up with a new performance standard that would make fixed-side cribs mandatory.
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Ford Motor Company is issuing a vehicle defect recall for about 2,900 2010 model Ranger pickup trucks that are equipped with manual transmissions because of a problem with the parking brake, Consumeraffairs.com reports. Ford officials say the brake cable could become disconnected from the right rear actuator in cold weather, causing “excessive pedal travel” when the brake is applied. If the brake is not fully applied, the truck could roll away. When the recall begins later this month, dealers will install a revised brake actuator in the recalled vehicles. The pickup trucks involved in this recall were manufactured from June 8, 2009 through February 2, 2010. If you own one of these vehicles, please take them to your dealer to have them inspected.
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Five people were injured in a Riverside car accident after a tire blowout sent the car out of control. According to a KPSP news report, the injury collision occurred the afternoon of May 26, 2010, when the car was traveling on the 10 Freeway, close to Indio. California Highway Patrol officials say one of the car’s tires blew out. The driver of the car lost control and the vehicle overturned. Five victims who were trapped in the vehicle were extricated by firefighters. One of the victims was airlifted with critical injuries while four others sustained minor to moderate injuries. All were transported to local hospitals. An investigation is ongoing.

I sympathize with all the victims of this horrific crash. It is indeed fortunate that no one was fatally injured. I wish all the victims here, especially the critically injured person, the very best for a quick and complete recovery. They will be in my thoughts and prayers.
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Jammie Lavine, 22, was killed in a motorcycle accident after he lost control of his cycle and crashed on the Ortega Highway in Lake Elsinore, the morning of May 22, 2010. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the fatal motorcycle crash occurred close to Grand Avenue. Lavine struck the guardrail and fell about 100 feet down a hillside next to the roadway. He was wearing a helmet, but sustained fatal injuries.

I offer my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Jammie Lavine for their tragic and heartbreaking loss. Please keep them in your prayers.
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The products liability lawyers at BISNAR | CHASE has recently received a complaint about an alleged toaster defect. A good samaritan wrote to us to warn other consumers of a toaster he believes is a dangerous and defective product sold at Walmart.

After buying the TS-704 toaster at Walmart, our source turned on the toaster. About a minute later he reached for the toaster with his right hand to shift the toaster’s location. After grabbing the toaster by its white sides he released it as a result of the pain he felt from the shockingly hot metal. The burning sensation on his right palm lasted painfully for about 15-30 minutes.
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Wal-Mart has issued a defective product recall for about 900,000 General Electric digital coffee makers because of their potential to overheat and cause a fire or serious burn injuries. According to an ABC News report, the recall involves black and white coffee makers with model numbers 169164 and 169165. GE is supporting Wal-Mart and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) in this voluntary recall. The recalled coffee makers were sold at Wal-Mart stores nationwide for about $30 each from March 2008 to January 2010.
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Commonly known as a cosmetic treatment, Botox is also used in other medical situations. Many believe Botox, known as botulinum toxin outside of cosmetics, is beneficial in the treatment of cerebral palsy and other conditions, though it is a powerful toxin and is not FDA approved for all uses. Certain cases have shown Botox treatments, used to treat muscle spasms, can lead to serious personal injury or even death.
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A company in Maywood has recalled its alfalfa sprouts over food poisoning concerns after at least 11 people in California have been sickened in a salmonella outbreak linked to raw alfalfa sprouts. According to an Associated Press news report, the company, Caldwell Fresh Foods, has announced a nationwide recall of the sprouts after 22 people in 10 states, including one infant in Oregon, were sickened. The sprouts that were involved in this recall were apparently sold at restaurants, delis and retailers all over the country including Trader Joe’s, Walmart and Kings Super Markets.

Although alfalfa sprouts are generally healthy, there have been nationwide recalls involving these products, in the recent years. In early 2009, a salmonella outbreak related to alfalfa sprouts sickened more than 100 consumers in Nebraska, South Dakota, Kansas and Minnesota.
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The death of two children has led to a massive defective product recall of toy dart guns. According to a CBS News report, Family Dollar stores are issuing this product safety recall for 1.8 million dart guns along with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Apparently the darts in these guns are small enough to get stuck in the throat and prevent a child from breathing. Desman Young, 10, of Wisconsin and another 9-year-old boy, both reportedly died of asphyxiation after swallowing the darts that came with the gun. In Desman’s case he was playing with the toy gun during recess. He was chewing on a dart when it went down his throat. He was declared “brain dead” and died the following day at the hospital.
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