Fresno Police Officers came upon a pedestrian down in a roadway Sunday night in eastern Fresno. The woman tragically could not be saved and investigators believe a hit-and-run driver is to blame.
KFSN-TV reports the accident happened along Tulare Avenue near 9th Street just before 9 p.m. on July 24, 2022. Fresno officers say they noticed the scene after driving up on several stopped cars on Tulare Avenue.
Upon spotting the pedestrian in the street, officers called for paramedics. Sadly, the woman ended up dying at the scene. Officials say the victim was believed to have been in her 70s. She was using a wheelchair.
Police have not been able to release a description of the car or the driver involved. If you have information about the accident, you’re asked to call the Fresno Police Department.
Pedestrian Accident Hazards in Fresno
Pedestrians in parts of Fresno can struggle to find safe crosswalks and sidewalks to travel on. Crosswalks can be a mile or more apart and crossing the road can be especially challenging for the disabled.
Even with safe intersections designed with pedestrian safety in mind, those on foot and in wheelchairs face the biggest dangers when depending on the attention of careless drivers. A driver looking at a cellphone or simply lost in thought can fail to spot a defenseless pedestrian. A collision may result in a life-threatening and traumatic injury.
California’s Transportation Injury Mapping System (TIMS) recorded 135 pedestrian collisions involving injury in Fresno in 2021. What’s more, almost 40 of those crashes were considered hit-and-run accidents.
When a thoughtless driver makes the decision to leave the scene of a collision, pedestrians are placed in extreme danger. Someone on foot can be struck and have to wait longer for life-saving medical care because a driver simply speeds away without calling 911.
A word about Fresno hit-and-run pedestrian accidents…
If a loved one has been the victim of a hit-and-run accident in Fresno, you should be aware of the benefits available to you and your family through an insurance claim. Financial support is often available to families who have lost a loved one even when a hit-and-run driver isn’t located.
You can read more about these cases on my page about tragic pedestrian accidents in Fresno.