Jeffrey Hewitt, 63, was killed in a San Bernardino motorcycle accident after officials said another driver made a left turn in front of him. According to a report in the San Bernardino Sun, the incident occurred the afternoon of Dec. 7. Police say Hewitt was riding a Harley Davidson south on Arrowhead Avenue approaching Alexander Avenue when a Kia Optima heading north on Arrowhead made a left turn in front of the motorcycle.
Fatal Hit-and-Run Crash
The woman who was driving the 2015 burgundy four-door Kia Optima fled the scene and was followed by someone who witnessed the collision. Police said the Kia was recovered several blocks away from the scene of the crash, but the driver had fled. Officials also said it appears inattention may have been a factor in this crash, but did not provide further details. A suspect description was not available.
We offer our deepest condolences to the family members of Jeffrey Hewitt for their tremendous loss. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
Laws and Liability Issues
Based on this news report, it appears that the motorist, in this case, may not only have been inattentive or negligent at the time but also may have made an illegal left turn in front of the motorcyclist and then left the scene of the fatal crash.
California Vehicle Code Section 21801 (a) states: “The driver of a vehicle intending to turn to the left or to complete a U-turn upon a highway, or to turn left into public or private property, or an alley, shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles approaching from the opposite direction which are close enough to constitute a hazard at any time during the turning movement, and shall continue to yield the right-of-way to the approaching vehicles until the left turn or U-turn can be made with reasonable safety.” It is also illegal under California Vehicle Code Section 20001 (a) to leave the scene of a crash without exchanging information or rendering aid to the injured.
In such cases, families of deceased accident victims would be well advised to contact an experienced San Bernardino motorcycle accident lawyer who also has experience handling hit and run cases. A knowledgeable attorney will also be able to advise families about how their own auto insurance policy might apply in a hit-and-run case where the at-fault party has not been apprehended or where the driver is uninsured or underinsured.
Source: https://www.sbsun.com/2020/12/07/motorcyclist-killed-in-san-bernardino-hit-and-run/