California Injury Blog
Zachary Parke, 25, was killed in a San Francisco area car accident, which officials say involved a hit-and-run driver. According to a news article in The Santa Cruz Sentinel, signs of the fatal bicycle accident were discovered the morning of June 8, 2011, just off Empire Grade Road, near the UC Santa Cruz campus. California Highway Patrol officials are investigating the death as a hit-and-run. Parke was riding from a friend’s home to the house he shared with his mother when he was hit. Another cyclist who noticed clothing and debris on the road found the victim’s body.
Tragic Hit-and-Run
Officials say the driver of a burgundy Nissan or Infiniti is suspected of hitting Parke either late Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning. Pieces of the car’s headlights were found at the scene as were paint chips, bicycle parts and other debris, the article states. Based on the physical evidence, officials say both the car and the bicycle were southbound at the time. Parke’s body was thrown off the bike and found about 20 feet away. Officials have described the suspect vehicle as a Nissan or Infiniti with a damaged headlight, side mirror, fender and other front-end damage. Anyone with information about this hit-and-run car accident is asked to contact CHP at 831-622-0511.
I offer my deepest condolences to the family members and friends of Zachary Parke for their sudden and heartbreaking loss. Parke is described by those who knew him as a kind-hearted man who loved animals and rock-climbing. What a tragic blow for his family! Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
Santa Cruz Accident Statistics
According to CHP’s 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were two fatalities and 92 injuries as a result of bicycle accidents in the city of Santa Cruz. Also, countywide, car accidents claimed 27 lives and injured 1,183 people during the same year.
Holding Wrongdoers Accountable
Based on this news report, it appears that the driver of the car not only hit and fatally injured Parke, but also left him lying on the roadway for hours before he was found. This is a cold-hearted act, which shows a callous disregard for a fellow human being. I trust this motorist will soon be found, apprehended and brought to justice. If you have any information, please visit our dedicated hit-and-run web site at www.hitandrunreward.com to offer an anonymous tip and become eligible for a $1,000 reward. Hitting someone and then fleeing without taking responsibility is unacceptable and inexcusable.
Families of hit-and-run victims would be well-advised to contact an experienced San Francisco personal injury lawyer, who will stay abreast of the official investigation and ensure that their legal rights and best interests are protected. A skilled car accident attorney will also advise the family about how their own car insurance policy might apply to a hit-and-run crash, or to an incident where the at-fault driver is uninsured or underinsured. Compensation may be available to families to cover funeral costs, lost future income, loss of love and companionship, and other related damages.
Lost a family member in a San Francisco car accident? Want to know your rights? Want to know what your case is worth? Want compensation? Want justice? Want to ensure the same thing doesn’t happen to another family?
Call your best friends in the legal industry after a fatal Santa Cruz bicycle accident. Call 800-259-6373. The call is free. The advice may be priceless.
Call a Bisnar Chase Personal Injury Attorneys San Francisco car accident lawyer for a free professional evaluation of your rights by attorneys who have been representing families of deceased accident victims since 1978. You will experience award winning representation and outstanding personal service by a compassionate and understanding law firm in a comfortable environment.