Bakersfield, CA — The Kern County Coroner’s Office has identified the woman tragically killed on Wednesday, March 29, 2024, in a hit-and-run incident on South Union Avenue as 49-year-old Anita Cecilia Hinojosa, according to KBAK.
Around 2:32 AM, officers from the Bakersfield Police Department were dispatched to the intersection of South Union Avenue and Hosking Avenue following reports of a vehicle versus pedestrian crash.
Upon arrival, officers found Hinojosa suffering from severe injuries. Despite their efforts, Hinojosa was pronounced dead at the scene. An autopsy later determined that the cause of death was multiple blunt force injuries, with the manner of death ruled as an accident.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the driver of a light-colored vehicle was traveling northbound in the 7700 block of South Union Avenue at the time of the collision. Hinojosa was crossing eastbound when she was struck. The vehicle involved fled the scene before officers could arrive.
The Bakersfield Police Department is actively searching for the driver responsible for this tragic hit-and-run.
Pedestrian Fatalities and Wrongful Death Claims
Motorists are required to exercise an additional “duty of care” towards pedestrians due to their heightened vulnerability in car accidents, which more often result in pedestrian fatalities. Motorists are expected to stay with injured pedestrians to help secure help from emergency services and cooperate with authorities once they arrive.
Those who lose their loved one to a vehicular fatality should know that a Wrongful Death Claim, made with the help of a knowledgeable personal injury attorney, can provide compensation to address the financial burden of medical bills, burial fees, and the loss of income to support any dependents of the deceased.
Should the at-fault driver escape justice, compensation may be available from a family member’s uninsured driver coverage. Consulting with a personal injury attorney can help determine what the best options are.