San Luis Obispo, CA — According to The San Luis Obispo Tribune, authorities have identified the pedestrian killed in a hit-and-run crash on Highway 101 near San Luis Obispo on September 1, 2024, as 26-year-old Cesar Salinas-Ruiz from Oxnard.
The incident occurred around 8:33 PM, near the Madonna Road overpass. According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), Salinas-Ruiz was struck by multiple vehicles while walking in the northbound lanes of Highway 101. The initial vehicle that hit him, described as an older model tan Toyota Camry, fled the scene and has yet to be located.
Emergency responders, including CHP, San Luis Obispo Police Department, and San Luis Obispo City Fire, closed the highway between Madonna Road and Marsh Street ramps to conduct their investigation. Law enforcement combed the area for evidence, walking the freeway to gather clues.
The investigation is still ongoing, and the CHP continues to treat the case as a hit-and-run. Authorities are urging anyone with information about the vehicle or the incident to come forward.
Pedestrian Fatalities and Wrongful Death Claims
Motorists bear an added responsibility, known as the “Duty of Care,” towards pedestrians due to their heightened vulnerability in car accidents, often leading to pedestrian fatalities.
For those who have lost someone in a vehicular fatality, a Wrongful Death claim, made with the help of an experienced personal injury attorney, can provide compensation to alleviate the financial strain of laying their loved one to rest.
If the at-fault driver evades legal consequences, compensation might still be accessible through a family member’s uninsured driver coverage. Seeking advice from a personal injury attorney can help ascertain the most suitable options in such circumstances.
California Hit-and-Run Laws
California Law requires drivers involved in a collision to stop their vehicle, notify law enforcement, and exchange insurance information with others involved. Failure to do so, considered to be a “hit-and-run,” is a misdemeanor in cases of property damage and a felony when someone has been injured.
Comparative Negligence
California Law upholds the concept of Comparative Negligence, which allows more than one party to share blame in a personal injury accident. Injured victims may have their compensation reduced if they are found partially to blame.
