California Injury Blog
Elyssa Negrete, 30, was killed in a pedestrian accident in Long Beach, which officials said, involved a hit-and-run driver. According to a KTLA news report, Negrete was crossing Pacific Avenue at Burnett Street in a marked crosswalk when a car fatally struck her. Negrete was transported to an area hospital where she died from her injuries. A man walking alongside Negrete in the crosswalk was also hit and critically injured. Detectives say they are still looking into whether that man, 35, knew Negrete or simply happened to be near her at the time of the crash.
Police are still searching for the driver, but have not yet released a description of the person. The vehicle involved has been described as a white, possibly four-door car. Investigators are not sure about the make or model of the vehicle, which was last seen driving south on Pacific Avenue. A witness to the crash told KTLA that the driver didn’t even brake after he struck the pedestrians in the crosswalk.
Our heartfelt condolences go out to the family members of Elyssa Negrete for their tragic loss. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
Hit and Run Crashes on Pacific
Negrete is the third pedestrian to be killed in a hit-and-run crash along Pacific Avenue in recent weeks after the deaths of two Long Beach residents in separate incidents last month. On May 15, 60-year-old Ricky Gonzalez was crossing Pacific Avenue at 16th Street when he was struck and killed. The motorist in that incident pulled over briefly but left before officers arrived. She remains at large.
Five days later 44-year-old Latonia Williams was crossing Pacific just above 25th Street, a block north of the crash that killed Negrete, when she was struck. The driver failed to stop and Williams’ body was run over by other cars as it lay in the road. The driver hasn’t been identified in that crash either. Anyone with information on the hit-and-runs can contact Detective David Whelan at 562-570-7355.
Justice for Victims’ Families
It is heartbreaking that none of the drivers in this case have been apprehended. In such cases, the family members of victims are not only left grieving with no answers about the hit-and-run drivers, but must also deal with unforeseen expenses such as cost of emergency transportation, medical care and funerals, burials, etc. In addition, they are left reeling from the loss of a primary wage earner or breadwinner, which often leads families to financial ruin.
If you have lost a loved one in a hit and run crash, it would be in your best interest to contact an experienced Long Beach hit and run lawyer who will stay on top of the official investigation and ensure that their legal rights and best interests are protected. A knowledgeable lawyer will also advise victims and their families about securing compensation through the uninsured motorist clause of their own auto insurance policies in cases where the at-fault driver is never found or identified.
Source: https://ktla.com/2019/06/27/officials-id-pedestrian-killed-in-3rd-fatal-hit-and-run-along-pacific-avenue-in-long-beach-since-last-month/