Chain | Cohn | Clark files lawsuit on behalf of family of jogger killed by driver who allegedly fell asleep

The Bakersfield personal injury law firm Chain | Cohn | Clark has announced it has filed a lawsuit on behalf of the family of Jesse Rios. You can see the news release and media coverage below.

Rios was struck and killed by a truck driver while on a morning jog. The driver allegedly fell asleep at the wheel and jumped the curb where Rios was jogging. The crash investigation is ongoing.

To view media coverage of this case, click on the articles and news stories below the news release.

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Aug. 19, 2014 – NEWS RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Bakersfield, Calif. (Aug. 19, 2014) – By all accounts, 26-year-old Jesse Rios was a loving brother, father and son who worked two full-time jobs to take care of his family.

The East High School graduate especially loved his 4-year-old daughter Isabella, and wanted to make sure she could get all medical treatment available for her epilepsy. Jesus and his wife Clarissa would make frequent trips to Children’s Hospital Central California in Madera.

On Tuesday, July 29, while taking a morning jog, Jesse Rios was struck and killed by a truck that ran onto the sidewalk at Westholme Boulevard and Wilson Road near the Rios’ home. The driver, Eliseo Soto, 29, was behind the wheel when he allegedly fell asleep. According to media reports, he had finished a 12-hour shift at West Coast Casing Company.

“I’m heartbroken,” Clarissa Rios said. “Jesse was not just my husband. He was my best friend, my partner, my everything. There is not a minute that goes by every day where I don’t think about him. When my daughter says she misses her daddy and asks when he’ll be home, it takes everything from within me to hold back my tears. I know that going forward we have to stand together and be strong for Jesse, and my hope is that by filing this lawsuit, we will obtain justice for him.”

The Bakersfield personal injury law firm, Chain | Cohn | Clark, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against West Coast Casing Company on behalf of Jesse’s wife, his daughter and his mother for the loss of love, affection, society, service, comfort, support, right of support, expectations of future support and counseling, companionship, solace and mental support, as well as other benefits and assistance of Jesse Rios.

Matthew C. Clark, lead attorney for the family, added: “The death of Jesse Rios is a tragedy in every sense of the word. He was a devoted husband to his wife, a loving father to his daughter, and a loyal son to his mother. We know that filing this lawsuit will not bring Jesse back, but our hope is that it will hold wrongdoers accountable, bring a sense of closure to his family, and help compensate them for the unthinkable loss they have all suffered.”

The Rios family has requested privacy during this time. Bakersfield Police Department is continuing its investigation of the crash.

430 Truxtun Avenue, Suite 100 – Bakersfield, CA – 93301 – Phone: 661-323-4000

CHAIN | COHN | CLARK is Kern County’s leading plaintiffs’ personal injury law firm, voted Bakersfield’s “Best Law Firm” in The Bakersfield Californian’s Readers Choice Poll the last two years in a row. Our Bakersfield personal injury attorneys have represented clients from throughout the San Joaquin Valley and California for 80 years. We concentrate our efforts on protecting the rights of individuals who have been seriously injured due to the negligent, reckless or intentional conduct of another. If you have been injured due to the fault of another, you have the right to hold that person or entity accountable, no matter how rich or powerful that person or entity may be. At Chain | Cohn | Clark, we pride ourselves on having the reputation and resources necessary to overcome the most difficult challenges while achieving the best possible results for our clients.

Find us on Facebook, Twitter (@chainlaw), Instagram, LinkedIn, Yelp, Pintrest and Google+

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MEDIA COVERAGE

Jogger hit, killed near Castle Elementary School (KERO-23 ABC)

Pedestrian hit by truck on Wilson Road (Eyewitness News, KBAK-KBFX 29-58)

Police: Driver likely fell asleep before hitting, killing jogger (Eyewitness News, KBAK-KBFX 29-58)

Family mourns man killed while on morning run (Eyewitness News, KBAK-KBFX 29-58)

Local runners put on event for Jesus Rios’ family (Eyewitness News, KBAK-KBFX 29-58)

Police: Driver who hit runner, fell asleep at the wheel (KGET-17, NBC)

Family remembers pedestrian killed (KGET-17, NBC)

Local runners honor man hit, killed in southwest Bakersfield (KGET-17, NBC)

Pedestrian hit by truck on Wilson Road (The Bakersfield Californian)

Truck runs onto sidewalk, kills pedestrian (The Bakersfield Californian)

‘First Look’: First News for July 30 (The Bakersfield Californian)

Family of jogger hit and killed sues driver’s company (The Bakersfield Californian) (Newspaper link HERE)

Family of jogger killed in crash files lawsuit (Eyewitness News, KBAK-KBFX 29-58)