California Injury Blog
A female driver has been arrested following a hit-and-run bicycle accident in West Covina, which left a man dead.
According to a KTLA news report, the collision occurred late night on October 26, 2014 in the area of South Valinda Avenue and East Merced Avenue.
A police officer in the area heard what sounded like a traffic collision, pulled out of a parking lot and saw a vehicle fleeing in a northbound direction.
He gave chase and caught up with the vehicle two blocks away. He found it
had major collision damage and asked another officer to check the area.
That’s when the officer saw a male bicyclist on the ground who was pronounced dead at the scene. The victim has been identified as a Hispanic man in his mid-40s.
Officials say the bicyclist and the vehicle were both heading in the same direction when the collision occurred. The female driver is facing hit-and-run and a felony DUI charge. The investigation is still ongoing.
We offer our deepest condolences to the family members and friends of this deceased victim for their heartbreaking loss. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
DUI Fatalities and Injuries
There were two fatalities and 47 injuries involving DUI collisions in West Covina, according to California Highway Patrol’s 2013 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS). In Los Angeles County as a whole, 217 people died and 4,251 were injured due to DUI crashes during the same year.
Violation of Laws
Based on this news report, it appears that the female driver involved in the accident was not only under the influence, but also left the scene of a fatal accident. Under California Vehicle Code Section 23152 (a), it is illegal to operate a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. Also, California Vehicle Code Section 20001 (a) requires motorists to stop immediately and remain at the scene of a crash.
Drivers are also required to exchange pertinent information with other parties and most importantly, render aid to injured victims at the scene. This could be something as simple as calling 911. However, in this case, the driver did none of the above, but took off from the scene leaving the fatally injured bicyclist lying in the roadway. Outrageous! We are relieved to note that the driver has been apprehended and hope that she will be brought to justice.
Justice for Victims’ Families
If you have lost a loved one in a hit-and-run crash, it would be in your best interest to contact an experienced Los Angeles personal injury attorney who will stay abreast of the official investigation and ensure that your legal rights and best interests are protected. A knowledgeable car accident lawyer will also be able to advise victims’ families about how their auto insurance policy might apply to an incident where the hit-and-run driver is uninsured or underinsured.