A woman was killed in a Los Angeles car accident involving a driver who fled the site of the collision, the night of February 3, 2012. According to a report in the Los Angeles Daily News, the pedestrian accident occurred on Orchard Village Road near Dalbey Drive in Valencia. Officials say the woman was walking along the curb at or near the intersection, when a southbound car, driven by 68-year-old Jonathan Anker, struck her. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Anker was later arrested on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter.
My heartfelt condolences go out to the family and friends of the pedestrian killed in this tragic hit-and-run car accident. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
Pedestrian Accident Statistics
According to California Highway Patrol’s 2009 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), Santa Clarita pedestrian accidents claimed the life of one person and injured 41. During that same year, there were 179 fatalities and 4,918 injuries reported due to Los Angeles County pedestrian accidents.
Hit-and-Run Accidents
Based on this news report, the victim was walking along the curb near the intersection. It is unclear why the collision occurred, but it does appear that the driver hit the woman and left her there without offering assistance. Unconscionable! I’m relieved to hear that the hit-and-run driver in this case has been apprehended. Not only is leaving the scene of a car accident an irresponsible and inhumane 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.”
Liability Issues
Those who have lost a loved one in a hit-and-run accident would be well advised to speak with an experienced Los Angeles personal injury lawyer, who will stay abreast of the official investigation and ensure that their legal rights and best interests are protected. A knowledgeable car accident attorney will inform families in such cases about how their own auto insurance policy applies to an incident where the suspect is not found, or, in a crash where the at-fault motorist is uninsured or underinsured.