Vallejo Hit-and-Run Driver Sentenced
On Wednesday, December 6, 2017, a Vallejo resident was sentenced by the Superior Court of Napa County to a probation period of three years and had her driver’s license privileges revoked permanently for fatally striking a cyclist with her vehicle in 2016.
The Collision
California Highway Patrol (CHP) records show that the accident occurred on June 3, 2016, when Patricia Ann Hill, a 77-year-old Vallejo woman, had been driving a 2009 Honda CR-V southbound along Highway 29 close to the intersection of Airport Boulevard.
Hill reportedly drifted onto the shoulder of the roadway and struck Paul Schapiro, a 58-year-old man from American Canyon who had been riding his bicycle on the side of the road. Schapiro was found dead at the accident scene.
The Arrest
After striking Schapiro, Hill drove away from the scene of the accident. Hill was arrested a short time after when Napa County Sheriff’s Office deputies stopped her on Highway 29 and had her transported to the Vallejo Sutter Solano Medical Center.
Hill was arrested on a felony charge of hit-and-run and misdemeanor manslaughter with a vehicle but was sentenced for two misdemeanor charges of vehicular manslaughter with no involved gross negligence and hit-and-run causing death. Hill entered a no contest plea for both charges.
A Cherished Community Member
Paul Schapiro was an engaged member of his community and loved by many. Schapiro was named the Bike Commuter of 2014 for a daily 6-½ mile commute each way to his accounting job in Napa. Additionally, Schapiro served as the treasurer for the Democratic Party of Napa County and was involved in various political activism activities.
Schapiro said that he loved biking because it costs less than driving, is a healthy exercise, and is good for the environment. In an interview, Schapiro once proudly noted that his 2008 Toyota Prius’s odometer read less than 11,000 miles.
Restitution
During the trial, members of Schapiro’s family requested that the court mandate Hill to make restitution payments to the non-profit organization California Bicycle Coalition. Schapiro’s niece told reporters that finding out about the accident was “devastating to (her) and (her) family.”
Paul’s brother called the incident a “catastrophe” and mourned the loss of his brother, noting that Paul would not be able to watch his children and grandchildren continue to grow up.
Wrongful Death
Cases like this are often totally devastating to the family of the deceased. Those in mourning usually find it difficult to focus and can have a hard time thinking about things like calling a lawyer. However, doing so may be vitally important in making sure that responsible parties pay for the damage they have caused. You can read more on my website under wrongful death.
More From Ed Smith, Vallejo Personal Injury Lawyer
Vallejo Personal Injury Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Vallejo personal injury lawyer. The loss of someone you love is never easy, but a lawyer can often help you recover financially. If a negligent party has killed someone you care about, contact us at (707) 564-1900 to receive free, valuable, and friendly advice. I’m also available at AutoAccident.com and (800) 404-5400.
For more than 35 years, I and my team have worked in the Vallejo area in order to help individuals and families with cases of wrongful death and/or personal injury to obtain fair recompense.
I have client reviews on: Avvo (a site for ranking attorneys),, Yelp, and Google,
I’m part of a forum for Million Dollar Advocates. The group is exclusively for U.S. trial lawyers with past settlements or verdicts valued at over one million USD.
Take a moment to browse our Verdict and Settlement History.
I’m proud to have founded AutoAccident.com, the best Northern California website for auto accident and personal injury news and info.
pic: “wooden gavel” by Santeri Viinamaki through CC A-SA4.0I
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