Driver Involved in Fatal Hit-and-Run Accident Sentenced
We have been keeping you updated on the legal proceedings regarding the hit-and-run accident involving Devin Robles, a 20-year-old Fairfield resident who struck a bicyclist last year, leaving the bicyclist with fatal injuries. On Thursday, October 12, 2017, Robles received a prison sentence at the Solano County Superior Court.
Accident Review
The collision occurred on July 9, 2016. Fairfield resident Richard McClain, 57, had been riding his bicycle while collecting cans in the early morning, around 4:50 a.m., along Sunset Avenue in Suisun. McClain had been riding in the crosswalk of the intersection of Railroad and Sunset Avenues while Robles had been driving northbound on Sunset Avenue.
When Robles reached the intersection, he collided with McClain, knocking the man off of his bicycle. Robles reportedly continued on for a short distance driving north in the southbound lane of Sunset Avenue until his vehicle struck the northwestern corner of the intersection.
Hit-and-Run
Officers who responded to the accident say that they found McClain lying in the center of the road with Robles’ wrecked vehicle abandoned where it had crashed at the intersection corner. Robles was reportedly located sometime later after witnesses saw the man fleeing down northbound Sunset Avenue in the direction of an open field.
Police found the man walking in the area and arrested him on charges of driving under the influence of alcohol, causing great bodily injury, and leaving the site of an accident.
Fatal Injuries
McClain was put in an intensive care unit at NorthBay Medical Center, but could not recover from his injuries and eventually lost his life due to the trauma he sustained in the collision. After McClain died, a charge of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated was brought against Robles.
Our sincerest sympathies are extended to the family and friends of Mr. McClain for this tragic loss of life.
The Sentence
Solano County Superior Court found Robles guilty of the charges of felony hit-and-run involving injury and gross vehicular manslaughter, ultimately sentencing him to spend five years in state prison.
Wrongful Death
Losing somebody that you care about or depend on can be an extremely difficult and life-altering event. People struggling with the loss of somebody they love often don’t want to spend time dealing with the details of securing compensation for their loss because they are still in the middle of the mourning process and learning how to cope without their loved one.
However, calling a lawyer is one thing that those dealing with wrongful death should do as soon they possibly can. Having a lawyer working on your case means that you don’t have to worry about the complicated process of filing claims, and can trust that somebody is working to ensure that you receive the full compensation you are owed.
More from Ed Smith, Fairfield Wrongful Death Lawyer
Fairfield Wrongful Death Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Fairfield wrongful death lawyer. If you have lost a loved one because of the recklessness of another driver, please call me at (707) 564-1900 or 800-404-5400 for free, friendly, and compassionate advice. You can also reach me online at AutoAccident.com.
I have been serving the Fairfield and Greater California community for over 35 years, helping injured people and their families recover after accidents. Visit Avvo, Yelp, and Google to view some of my former client’s reviews.
I’m in the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, a United States group for trial lawyers who’ve won or else negotiated client cases with values of over $1,000,000.
Read summaries of some of my Past Settlements and Verdicts here.
AutoAccident.com is my website. Visit it to read daily blogs and accurate, valuable info about personal injuries and car accidents.
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons, Golden Gavel by walknboston. CC BY 2.0
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