A suspect has been identified in a deadly Modesto pedestrian hit-and-run that occurred Friday night. KCRA-TV reported the tragic accident happened near the intersection of Orangeburg Avenue and Nelson Avenue on December 2, 2022.
The accident was reported around 9 p.m. after witnesses observed a driver in a dark-colored vehicle strike a man and flee the scene. Modesto police arrived and began life-saving procedures. Sadly, the victim could not be saved. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators had not made an arrest in the case at last report, but they say they know who the suspect is. Officers are examining whether drugs or alcohol played a role in the accident. If you have any information about the accident, please contact the Modesto Police Department.
Hit-And-Run Pedestrian Accident Dangers in Modesto
Pedestrians traveling Modesto already face a frightening battle to get noticed by reckless drivers. They also find safe crosswalks few and far between. Some crosswalks aren’t paired with traffic lights and the paint on these rundown intersections can be fading badly.
Those on foot also get hit by motorists who don’t have any intention of taking responsibility for their careless actions. A driver can speed away from the scene of an accident and leave a victim in additional jeopardy while waiting on someone to report what happened so paramedics can be dispatched.
These unfortunate situations occur far too often in Modesto. California’s Transportation Injury Mapping System (TIMS) documented 99 pedestrian accidents involving injury on Modesto roads in 2021. 21 of those incidents involved felony hit-and-run charges. In 2020, the total number of pedestrian accidents stood at 97 incidents. 25 of those collisions involved a driver who faced felony hit-and-run charges.
These incredible numbers represent a frighteningly steady rate of heartbreaking incidents. In 2023, it’s critical that drivers start paying more attention to those on foot who travel around them. It’s also important that hit-and-run drivers are caught and punished to the full extent of the law to make sure others who would commit the same crime think twice.
A word for families after tragic Modesto pedestrian collisions…
If you or a loved one has been the victim of a hit-and-run accident in Modesto, you should be aware of the benefits available to you and your family through an insurance claim. Financial support is available to victims and families even while a hit-and-run suspect is going through a criminal trial.
You can read more about these cases on my page about tragic pedestrian accidents in Modesto.
