[07-17-2022] Fresno County, CA- Pedestrian Killed after being Struck by Hit-and-Run Driver

According to the Fresno Police, a pedestrian was killed after a fatal hit-and-run in Central Fresno on Sunday, July 17, 2022.

According to the officers, they were dispatched to First and Belmont Avenues and discovered that 59-year-old Theodore Ceja, who was walking north in the eastbound lane of Belmont Avenue, was hit by a car. Just after midnight, Ceja was pronounced dead on the scene.

The driver who hit him continued down the road, making a U-turn at Fisher Avenue and then heading down Belmont to turn north on Second Street.

The vehicle he was driving was described as a grey GMC truck that damaged the front end and driver’s side headlight.

Officers searched the area for the driver but were unable to locate him at the time.

According to the authorities, several home surveillance cameras could aid in the investigation.

Anyone with information about the deadly incident is asked to call Detective Christopher Wyant at (559) 621-5052 or Crime Stoppers at (559) 498-STOP to remain anonymous.

FATAL HIT-AND-RUN CRASH STATISTICS

Leaving an accident scene is a crime in and of itself. Unfortunately, hit-and-run accidents continue to be common on US highways. Every minute, a hit-and-run accident occurs in the United States.

There were 2,049 hit-and-run fatalities in the United States in 2016. Every year, approximately 682,000 hit-and-run incidents occur in the United States. Accidents involving hit-and-runs often cause serious injury to pedestrians.

More than 5% of fatalities were caused by drivers who hit people on the road and then continued driving. Every year, there is a 7.2 percent increase in hit-and-run incidents. Cars striking pedestrians and then fleeing the scene were responsible for 20% of pedestrian fatalities.

According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, California’s hit-and-run accident rate reached an all-time high in 2016. (the most recent year for which data is available). In 2016, 337 people were killed in hit-and-run accidents. This represents a 60% increase over the previous ten years.

For various reasons, a driver may flee the scene of an accident. They could be drug addicts, have run-ins with the law, lack health insurance, or be here illegally, among other things.

FRESNO COUNTY FATAL HIT-AND-RUN ACCIDENT LAWYERS

When a car accident occurs in California, the driver must exit the vehicle as safely as possible. It is either a crime or a serious infraction to drive without stopping and waiting for the police to arrive.

It becomes even more difficult if the other driver does not acknowledge their error, pull over, or offer assistance. Many victims of hit-and-run accidents are unaware that even if the at-fault driver flees, they may be entitled to financial compensation for their pain and suffering, medical expenses, and lost wages.

The sooner you speak with a skilled hit-and-run accident lawyer, the better your chances of recovering compensation for your injuries or the loss of a loved one.

The Fresno County hit-and-run accident attorneys at Arash Law have extensive experience defending people who have been injured or killed while walking in traffic. We understand the applicable law in these circumstances.

Our attorneys spend a significant amount of time getting to know our clients and their issues in order to obtain the best settlement or jury verdict for them. If you were injured in a hit-and-run accident, contact a lawyer at (888) 488-1391.