Magalia, CA – In the early hours of Monday, August 4, 2025, three children were injured in a single-vehicle crash after one had allegedly been allowed to drive by her mother, Cathryn Kreceman, 41, according to KSBW.
The California Highway Patrol reports that the accident took place shortly after 12:00 AM in the 14000 block of Bridgeport Circle.
Authorities stated that an 11-year-old girl was driving the Jeep when it left the roadway and struck the house. The driver sustained major injuries and had to be extricated from the vehicle by fire personnel before being transported to an area hospital.
Two 10-year-old girls inside the Jeep were also hospitalized, one with a broken nose and the other with contusions to the head. An 11-year-old boy and a 13-year-old boy were in the vehicle but were uninjured and released to a guardian at the scene.
Officials said Cathryn Kreceman, the mother of the driver, was also inside the Jeep at the time of the crash and was not injured. She was the only occupant wearing a seatbelt.
Krecemen has been charged with child endangerment and forbidden by the court to have contact with the children involved, including her own, while awaiting trial.
The incident remains under investigation by the California Highway Patrol.
Accidents involving Unlicensed Minors
Driving with a license is considered “Negligence Per Se.” This means that, because a driver violated a public safety law, their degree of responsibility in an accident increases. California’s Comparative Negligence Law does not consider fault to be “all-or-nothing.” It can be divided among the parties involved based on various factors.
Until drivers reach the age of 18, California Law states that their parents have Vicarious Liability. This makes parents financially responsible for any damages their child causes while driving a vehicle. Vicarious Liability applies whether or not the parent was present with the child in the vehicle at the time of the accident.
Passenger Liability
Driver liability insurance covers both those outside the vehicle and passengers inside. While it can be emotionally difficult to file a Personal Injury claim against someone close to the victim, the financial challenges after an accident can be overwhelming. As a neutral third party, an experienced personal injury attorney can help navigate these emotional complexities.
California Car Accident Lawyer
If you or someone you love was harmed in an accident like the one described here, contact a California Car Accident Lawyer for any questions or to receive a no-cost, no-obligation case assessment.
