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Couple in Fatal Los Angeles Pedestrian Accident Will Stand Trial

The husband and wife who hit a USC student killing her and severely injuring her friend in a fatal hit and run accident earlier this year, will have their day in court.

This week, 33-year-old Josue Luna and 30-year-old Claudia Cabrera were ordered to stand trial in the death of 18-year-old USC student Adrianna Bachan, and injuries caused to her 19-year-old friend Marcus Garfinkle.  Cabrera faces charges of leaving the scene of an accident, and misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter. Luna is charged with leaving the scene of an accident.

On March 29^th, Bachan and Garfinkle were walking home, when Cabrera who was driving a 2000 Infinity struck the two students. Bachan sustained fatal injuries, and Garfinkle’s wounded body was on the windshield of the Infinity where he clung on for life. Cabrera stopped the vehicle, and her husband got out and threw Garfinkle’s body off the windshield, after which the couple proceeded to drive on as if nothing had happened. Throughout the events that unfolded on that faithful evening, the couple’s 7-month-old child was in the backseat of the car.

Bachan’s death led to a public outcry against the hit and run motorist responsible.  Her mother launched a highly emotional campaign, asking for public help in apprehending the guilty. On April 2^nd, Cabrera was arrested after police launched a massive search effort. Luna was arrested on the 18^th of April in San Ysidro while he was trying to re-enter the country from Mexico.  According to Cabrera’s statement after her arrest, she had wanted to stop the car, but the light at the intersection turned green. Her husband, she alleged, had also wanted her to drive off from the scene of the accident.  Just before the fatal accident, Cabrera and Luna had been partying in San Fernando Valley.

Authorities say that Luna pushed Garfinkle, who was seriously injured, from the windshield of the car and dumped him on the sidewalk before the two drove off.  He further injured an already seriously wounded Garfinkle when he threw him of the windshield. Luna’s attorney denies that he aggravated the young student’s injuries. He insists that Garfinkle’s injuries were sustained in the crash. However Los Angeles Superior Judge has taken note of Garfinkle’s testimony of lacerations caused to his arms and stomach from the broken windshield of the glass.  According to the Deputy District Attorney, Cabrera was afraid of getting arrested after the accident because she didn’t have insurance.

The incident had a strong impact on the local community and received attention across California. It’s an extreme example of the kind of motorist recklessness that Los Angeles pedestrian accident lawyers come across every day.

It’s typically hard to nab a hit and run driver in a pedestrian accident. Local police here deserve kudos for being able to arrest the husband and wife as quickly as they did.  We hope the justice system will also play its part in making sure that Luna and Cabrera receive the justice they richly deserve.

The Reeves Law Group is a law firm with offices throughout California dedicated exclusively to the representation of personal injury victims, including victims of pedestrian accidents. Please visit our website at trlglaw.com. If you desire a free consultation on a personal injury matter, please call us at (800) 644-8000 or email us.

The Reeves Law Group is not acting as legal counsel for any party in the matters discussed in this posting.

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