California Injury Blog
Oxnard police are looking for a hit-and-run driver, who they say was involved in a pedestrian collision that killed 20-year-old Aida Reyes. According to a CBS Los Angeles news report, the fatal incident occurred the night of September 20, 2013 at the intersection of Hemlock Street and Capstan Drive in Oxnard. Officials say the vehicle was westbound on Hemlock when Reyes tried to cross in a marked crosswalk.
The driver of the silver Infiniti failed to yield, struck the victim and fled without stopping to render aid. Reyes was taken to an area hospital where she was listed in critical condition. She died from here injuries the following morning. The vehicle, a 2003 Infiniti G35 was found in a nearby neighborhood. However, the driver has not yet been found. Anyone with information is asked to contact Senior Officer Maria Pena at 805-385-7750. The investigation is ongoing.
Pedestrian Collisions
One person died and 65 were injured due to pedestrian accidents in Oxnard in 2010, according to CHP’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS). In Ventura County as a whole, five fatalities and 201 injuries were reported due to pedestrian collisions during the same year.
Violation of Laws
Based on this news report, it appears that the driver in this case not only failed to yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian walking in a crosswalk, but also fled the scene of an injury crash. California Vehicle Code section 21950 states: “The driver of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within any marked crosswalk or within any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection.”
According to California Vehicle Code Section 20001 (a), motorists are required to stop immediately and remain at the scene of an injury crash. Drivers are also required to exchange information and render aid to the injured victims. However, this driver did none of the above. Instead, he or she chose to drive away leaving the severely injured victim lying on the roadway.
Holding Wrongdoers Accountable
I certainly hope officials are able to track down this driver and bring him or her to justice. If you have any information about this driver, please visit our dedicated hit-and-run web site at www.hitandrunreward.com to offer an anonymous tip and to become eligible for a $1,000 reward.
Injured victims or families of deceased victims would also be well advised to contact an experienced Ventura 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 lawyer will also be able to advise victims about how their own auto insurance policy might apply to a hit-and-run case or in an incident where the at-fault motorist is uninsured or underinsured.