A 67-year-old Vacaville woman died Monday night after exiting her vehicle on Pleasants Valley Road and being struck by an oncoming car, according to the California Highway Patrol. The California Highway Patrol logged the vehicle versus pedestrian collision at approximately 8:41 p.m. near Sunny Hills Lane, prompting an immediate emergency response from local fire crews.
The stretch of Pleasants Valley Road near Sunny Hills Lane is a rural two-lane roadway that carries higher speeds and limited overhead lighting after dark. These conditions can make it especially dangerous for anyone standing or walking outside a vehicle at night. Crashes involving pedestrians in unlit rural areas often come down to visibility and reaction time, two factors investigators will be examining closely as they work to determine exactly what happened in the moments leading up to this fatal crash.
How the Crash Unfolded
According to the preliminary CHP investigation, Brey was driving a 2026 Honda CR-V northbound on Pleasants Valley Road when she pulled onto the right shoulder for reasons that remain under investigation. She activated her hazard lights, exited the vehicle, and crossed to the west side of the roadway.
At the same time, a 42-year-old man was driving a 2019 Mitsubishi Outlander southbound on Pleasants Valley Road with his wife and son riding as passengers. For reasons still under investigation, Brey entered or remained within the southbound lane of travel, where she was struck by the Mitsubishi. The driver stopped immediately, called 911, and remained cooperative at the scene throughout the investigation. Officers reported no signs of impairment on his part.
CalFire personnel who were responding to an unrelated incident nearby were flagged down and began CPR on the victim until additional emergency crews arrived. When CHP officers reached the scene, Vacaville Fire Department personnel were performing life-saving measures on the pedestrian. Despite those efforts, the victim was pronounced dead at the scene. The exact cause of the crash remains under investigation.
Understanding Liability in Pedestrian Roadway Incidents
Pedestrian collisions that occur after a vehicle stop, like this one, often raise complex questions about fault. California law requires all drivers to exercise reasonable care to avoid colliding with pedestrians under California Vehicle Code Section 21950, while pedestrians also have a duty to exercise due care for their own safety.
Under California’s pure comparative negligence rule, established by California Civil Code Section 1714, fault can be apportioned among multiple parties, meaning a pedestrian who may have contributed to a crash is not automatically barred from recovering compensation.
Investigators will likely examine several factors before determining liability, including lighting and visibility conditions on Pleasants Valley Road at night, the positioning and speed of both vehicles, and whether either driver had adequate time to react. Because she had reportedly exited her vehicle and crossed into the roadway, questions about right-of-way and reaction time will be central to any final determination of fault.
Wrongful Death Claims Under California Law
When a fatal crash such as this one occurs, surviving family members may have grounds to pursue a wrongful death claim. California Code of Civil Procedure Section 377.60 identifies who may bring such a claim, typically a surviving spouse, domestic partner, or children, while Section 377.30 governs survival actions brought on behalf of the deceased’s estate.
These claims can allow families to recover damages for funeral and burial expenses, loss of financial support, and loss of companionship, among other losses. If any portion of the roadway conditions, such as inadequate lighting or signage, contributed to the crash.
The families may also want to explore whether a government entity bears any responsibility under California Government Code Section 835, which addresses liability for dangerous conditions of public property. These cases have strict, often short, filing deadlines, so prompt legal guidance is important.
It’s important for families to understand that a wrongful death claim is separate from any criminal investigation or citations that may result from the CHP’s review of this crash. Even if no criminal charges are filed, or if fault is initially attributed in a way the family disagrees with, a civil wrongful death claim can still move forward based on a separate standard of proof.
Families don’t need to wait for the outcome of a law enforcement investigation before speaking with an attorney about their options, and doing so early can help ensure that evidence is preserved and important deadlines aren’t missed.
What Compensation Might Look Like
Every case is different, and no attorney can promise a specific result before reviewing the facts. That said, families pursuing wrongful death or survival claims in California may seek compensation across several categories, including medical and funeral expenses already incurred, the financial support the deceased would have provided, and the loss of care, comfort, and guidance suffered by surviving family members.
An experienced attorney can help evaluate the specifics of a case and provide a more tailored estimate of potential damages once the facts are known. It’s also worth noting that wrongful death damages in California aren’t limited to what can be documented on a receipt. Non-economic losses, such as the loss of a parent’s guidance, a spouse’s companionship, or the emotional toll of losing a loved one so suddenly.
These are real and compensable under California law, even though they’re harder to quantify. An attorney experienced in wrongful death claims can help gather the evidence needed to support these harder-to-quantify losses, so that the compensation a family pursues reflects the full weight of what they’ve lost, not just the immediate financial impact.
Wrongful Death Settlement Calculators: Estimating Potential Case Value
While no online tool can predict the exact value of a wrongful death claim, a wrongful death settlement calculator can offer families a helpful starting point for understanding the types of factors that go into a case valuation. These calculators typically account for economic damages, such as the deceased’s lost future income, benefits, and financial contributions to the household, as well as estimated medical and funeral expenses already incurred.
Some tools also attempt to account for non-economic losses, such as loss of companionship and emotional suffering, though these are inherently more subjective and harder to quantify with a simple formula.
It’s important for families to treat any calculator estimate as a rough starting point rather than a guaranteed outcome, since every case depends on specific facts, including the strength of available evidence, the deceased’s age and earning history, and how liability is ultimately apportioned between the parties involved.
For a more accurate picture of what a claim may be worth, families are encouraged to speak directly with an experienced wrongful death attorney who can review the details of the case and provide guidance grounded in real experience rather than a generic estimate. Call us now at +1-866-218-3776 to speak with the experts.
Injured or Lost a Loved One? GJEL Accident Attorneys Can Help
“When someone is hurt because another driver didn’t see them or didn’t yield in time, the physical injuries are only part of what they’re carrying. There’s the fear of getting behind the wheel again, the mounting medical bills, and the uncertainty about how to move forward. I’ve spent over 40 years helping people through exactly this kind of situation, and I can tell you that you don’t have to figure it out alone. If you or someone you love was hurt in this crash, please reach out to us. We’ll listen to your story, walk you through your options, and if you decide to move forward, we won’t charge you a dime unless we win your case.”- Andy Gillin, GJEL Accident Attorneys
If you or a loved one has been affected by a pedestrian or vehicle collision in California, the attorneys at GJEL Accident Attorneys are ready to help you understand your rights. With more than 40 years of experience and over $950 million recovered for our clients, our firm handles every case on a contingency-fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we win.
Call us today at +1-866-218-3776 or visit our Richmond office for a free, no-obligation consultation. GJEL Accident Attorneys has been fighting for injured Californians and grieving families for more than four decades. Our track record of results reflects our unwavering commitment to holding negligent parties accountable and securing the compensation our clients deserve.
Local Resources for Those Affected
California Highway Patrol – Solano Area Office
3050 Travis Blvd., Fairfield, CA 94534
Phone: (707) 639-5600
chp.ca.gov/find-an-office/golden-gate-division/365-solano
Vacaville Police Department
660 Merchant Street, Vacaville, CA 95688
Non-Emergency Line: (707) 449-5200
cityofvacaville.gov/government/police-department
Solano County Sheriff-Coroner’s Office
520 Clay Street, Fairfield, CA 94533
Phone: (707) 784-7500
solanocounty.gov/government/sheriff-coroner
