California Injury Blog
A woman in her 40s was killed in a Santa Ana car accident after a vehicle struck her and left the scene. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the fatal hit-and-run crash occurred in the 1500 block of West First Street, early morning on September 13, 2012. Police say the homeless woman was pushing a shopping cart when a vehicle hit her and the cart in which she carried her personal belongings. The driver fled without stopping to help the victim. The woman was pronounced dead at the scene. Officials have not yet released a vehicle description, but witnesses said it may have been a white colored pickup truck and that it possibly sustained significant front-end damage. Anyone with information about this fatal crash is asked to contact traffic investigators at 714-245-8216.
I offer my deepest condolences to the family members and friends of this deceased hit-and-run car accident victim. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
Pedestrian Accident Statistics
According to California Highway Patrol’s 2010 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were six fatalities and 134 injuries involving pedestrian accidents in Santa Ana. During the same year, 32 people were killed and 770 were injured due to Orange County pedestrian accidents.
Hit-and-Run Law
Based on this news account, the driver of the vehicle struck and fatally injured this pedestrian and left her lying on the roadway without care or medical attention. Appalling! Leaving the scene of an injury car accident is not only an inhumane and irresponsible act, but it is also illegal. California Vehicle Code Section 20001 (a) states: “The driver of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to a person, other than himself or herself, or in the death of a person shall immediately stop the vehicle at the scene of the accident.”
I trust officials will apprehend this hit-and-run driver and bring him or her to justice. If you have any information at all about this hit-and-run crash, please visit our dedicated hit-and-run website at www.hitandrunreward.com to offer an anonymous tip and to become eligible to receive a $1,000 reward.
Compensation for Victims and Families
Families of deceased victims would be well advised to contact an experienced personal injury lawyer in Santa Ana, who will stay on top of the official investigation and ensure that their legal rights and best interests are preserved. In cases where the suspect is not found, a knowledgeable car accident lawyer will be able to advise families about how their own auto insurance policy applies. The best personal injury law firms will always offer a free consultation and comprehensive case evaluation to a hit-and-run accident victim or his or her family.