Carrie Tricia Sears, 40, Skylar Eubanks, 4, killed, one other female child seriously injured, transported to hospital, after a SUV, driving erratically, leaves the westbound roadway of I-80 near Sacramento and crashes into a tree.

A woman and a small boy who died Thursday afternoon in a single-vehicle crash on westbound Interstate 80 near Madison Avenue were from Southern California. The Sacramento County Cororner’s office identified the victims of the car crash as Carrie Tricia Sears, 40, of Encino and Skylar Eubanks, 4, of West Hills. Encino and West Hills are neighborhoods in the city of Los Angeles in the San Fernando Valley. The crash occurred about 2 p.m. Thursday. California Highway Patrol spokeswoman Officer Lizz Dutton said a witness, an off-duty law enforcement officer, spotted a 2005 Nissan Pathfinder speeding on I-80 near Horseshoe Bar Road in Loomis and weaving in and out of the three left lanes. The witness called in and reported the vehicle. Just west of Madison Avenue, the Pathfinder veered right, crossing all lanes and running off the shoulder into a ditch, striking a tree. Dutton said the driver, Sears, and the 4-year-old child in a child restraint seat in the left side of the back seat, died at the scene. A girl, who appeared to be younger than 10 years old, was taken to UC Davis Medical Center with major injuries. The girl’s name has not been released. Dutton said the vehicle was not the subject of a law enforcement pursuit. She said she did not know whether the witness was speeding to keep pace with the Pathfinder.   How can a lawyer help with an auto accident claim? First, having a lawyer on your side levels the playing field.  The person who caused the accident is required to immediately turn the case over to his or her insurance company.  The insurance company uses adjusters and lawyers who are specifically trained to deny or reduce your claim.  This may include denying compensation to family members who are entitled to receive benefits for loss of companionship. Learn more here about what a lawyer does in auto accident cases.