Pedestrian Dies After Being Struck by Multiple Vehicles
A fatal pedestrian accident was reported in the downtown area of Sacramento on the evening of April 6. The incident occurred along northbound Interstate 5, and the driver is being sought by authorities. At about 9:00 p.m., California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers responded to calls about a pedestrian lying in the road near the J Street off-ramp.
Driver Who Initially Struck Pedestrian Flees the Accident Scene
It is believed by investigators that a driver in the right-hand lane hit the male pedestrian and left the scene. Due to the impact of that collision, the pedestrian was then hit by a minimum of three other vehicles. His body was found two lanes over, near the exit for J Street.
North Sacramento CHP Searching for Hit-and-Run Driver
A number of parties phoned 911 to report the incident and then waited for the police to come to the accident scene. At this time, officials with the North Sacramento CHP have no description of the vehicle that initially struck the pedestrian, nor do they have any significant leads. Traffic along northbound I-5 was mostly shut down except for one lane as an investigation into the accident was held. The name of the pedestrian who died has not yet been released pending notification of the family by the Sacramento County Coroner’s Office.
Hit-and-Run in a Fatal Pedestrian Accident
A driver who flees the scene of a fatal pedestrian accident in California can be charged with felony hit and run when they are found, which carries stiff penalties. Once the driver is caught, they can face time in state prison, be charged with a large fine, and lose their driver’s license for five years. In addition, the grieving family can add to their punishment by filing a wrongful death claim to recover damages for the loss of their loved one.
Locating the Driver and Vehicle
It is sometimes possible to find the hit-and-run driver who causes a fatal pedestrian accident, and our law firm has been successful a number of times. Our investigators have the experience and tenacity to hunt down that driver, so they can be held responsible for their actions. Investigating the accident is key to locating the vehicle and driver. Some of the areas in which an investigation is conducted include:
- Our investigators go to the scene of the fatal pedestrian accident as soon as possible to collect evidence before it disappears or is covered over.
- The investigators take photographs and look for paint smears and dropped metal pieces because they can help identify the make and model of the vehicle. This is because metal pieces and paint colors are specific to certain manufacturers and the year the vehicle was produced.
- If traffic surveillance cameras are in the area, they are checked to see if the accident was captured.
- All the witnesses to the fatal pedestrian accident are interviewed by the investigators. Witnesses can often describe or identify the hit-and-run vehicle. Some may be able to describe the driver or recall at least a portion of the license plate number. Others may have captured the accident as it happened on a cell phone.
- Accident reconstruction is performed to show how the collision occurred. This type of compelling evidence is often used by insurance companies and in court.
Sacramento Personal Injury & Wrongful Death Attorneys
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento personal injury lawyer. Call our injury lawyers for free, friendly advice if a negligent driver takes the life of your loved one. You can reach us at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400. An online form to contact us is available also. We can arrange a free consultation for you in which you can have your questions answered, get the case reviewed, and find out what opportunities there are to get compensation by filing a wrongful death claim.
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Photo attribution: Image by Myriams-Fotos from Pixabay
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