Young Boy Injured in Oakley Hit and Run Accident
A young child was struck while crossing the street by a driver that the Oakley Police Department arrested with the help of the public.
What happened?
A six-year-old child was crossing the road at the intersection of Francisco Villa Drive and O’Hara Avenue in Central Oakley. Two vehicles traveling northbound on O’Hara stopped to allow the child to cross the street. A white pickup passed these vehicles on the right and then struck the child in the crosswalk. The vehicle then fled the scene without stopping.
About the Emergency Response
The East Contra Costa Fire Protection District, American Medical Response (AMR), and the Oakley Police Department all responded to the accident shortly after the child was struck at 4:45 p.m. Emergency crews on the scene initially called for a medical helicopter to fly the child to a local children’s hospital, but canceled after assessing the boy’s injuries.
About the Child’s Injuries
Family and friends have reported that the child suffered injuries to his leg. Thankfully, none of his injuries was life-threatening. Authorities have said that the six-year-old is expected to make a full recovery.
About the Perpetrator
After the driver of the white truck struck the child, he continued northbound on O’Hara Avenue before turning left onto Main Street. Camera footage shows that the driver continued on Main Street past Vintage Parkway. At that point, authorities lost track of the vehicle.
The Oakley Police Department sought the public’s help to identify the driver responsible. Less than a day after the initial accident, the police were happy to report that they had apprehended the responsible driver and impounded the vehicle involved in the accident.
Common Causes of Hit and Runs
The official cause of the accident is unknown. Previous hit and run accidents we have worked as Oakley car accident lawyers, though, have often been caused by distracted drivers. Drivers on their cell phones or eating while driving does not have their full attention on the road. This makes it difficult for them to see pedestrians, especially child pedestrians.
The area where the accident occurred may have also played a role. The intersection of O’Hara Avenue and Francisco Villa Drive is in a residential neighborhood where kids are often playing in the street. This does not excuse the driver but does help explain the circumstances.
The authorities do not believe alcohol played a role in the accident, but they believe the driver may not have realized he struck a child.
Frequency of Hit and Run Accidents in Oakley
Oakley regularly experiences hit and run car accidents, in part because it is largely a commuter town. While families do live and work in Oakley, many Oakley residents work in the urban areas of the San Francisco Bay Area. As such, they do not show caution in residential areas and they frequently speed on Oakley streets. All Oakley residents must constantly be on guard for speeding vehicles and the resulting car accidents.
Oakley Car Accident & Personal Injury Attorneys
I’m Ed Smith, an Oakley personal injury lawyer. If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, please call me at (925) 428-5220 for free, friendly advice. You may also call toll free at (800) 404-5400.
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