A pedestrian hit-and-run victim was killed Friday night in Bakersfield and investigators say the driver left the scene immediately after the collision. KGET-TV reports the tragedy occurred just before 8:15 p.m. on October 21, 2022.
The Bakersfield Police Department responded to the scene sometime after 8:15 p.m. on South H Street just north of El Prado Drive and Belle Terrace. Investigators say a man was found in the roadway with major injuries. Tragically, he was later pronounced dead at the scene.
Police officers believe the driver involved fled the scene right after the collision. Officers say the vehicle involved was described as a gray GMC Yukon or similar vehicle. They add that the vehicle will have front-end damage.
Anyone who has information about the vehicle or the driver is asked to call the Bakersfield Police Department.
Pedestrian Hit-And-Run Accident Dangers in Bakersfield
Hit-and-run drivers do more than just escape justice. They are often responsible for leaving an injured victim at an accident scene waiting additional time for the injury care they need. This wait can be extra minutes or even hours. A hit-and-run driver also leaves the burden of expensive medical care to the victim or the victim’s loved ones.
This heartless decision is all too common on Bakersfield streets each year. In 2021, California transportation officials recorded 113 pedestrian accidents involving injuries that left a tragic 14 victims dead in Bakersfield. Of those accidents, 28 were reported as involving felony hit-and-run incidents. Hit-and-run accidents were blamed for at least 5 deaths in those collisions.
California has a long-running problem with hit-and-run drivers and Bakersfield only contributes to annual statistics that represent each tragic accident. It’s critical that hit-and-run victims and their families receive the support they need to rebuild their lives.
A word for families after a Bakersfield Hit-And-Run Accident…
If a loved one has been the victim of a hit-and-run accident in the Central Valley, you should be aware of the benefits available to you and your family through an insurance claim. Financial support is often available to families even when a hit-and-run driver escapes justice and is never found.
You can read more about these cases on my page about tragic pedestrian accidents in and around Bakersfield.
