Fatal Oroville Hit-and-Run

I’m Ed Smith, an Oroville personal injury lawyer. A local man recently lost his life after he was struck by a vehicle that drove away from the scene of an accident. According to reports, officers have located a vehicle and are currently holding it as evidence while an investigation continues. On Friday, April 20, 2018, the Sheriff’s Office in Butte County released the identity of the fatally injured man. The man was identified as Carlos Gonzalez, a 47-year-old resident of Fillmore.

My sincere sympathies are extended to the family and friends of Mr. Gonzalez who passed away in this tragedy.

Collision Information

According to authorities of the California Highway Patrol (CHP), Gonzalez was struck at approximately 1:15 p.m. on Thursday, April 19, 2018. Gonzalez had reportedly been operating a weed cutting machine while landscaping his olive orchard off of Foothill Boulevard close to the Lower Wyandotte Road intersection. While he was working in the orchard along with his brother, a 2000’s model Dodge Ram pickup truck driving on Foothill Boulevard veered off of the roadway. After driving off of the roadway, the vehicle collided with a telephone pole before crashing through the orchard fence and striking Gonzalez. According to reports, the telephone pole was damaged at its base and fell over. After the accident, the driver of the truck backed out of the orchard and drove away from the collision scene.

Response

Emergency response personnel were initially sent to the scene to respond to accident injuries as well as possible electrocution injuries related to the downed telephone pole. When responders arrived, they found Gonzalez with severe injuries. Sadly, he was pronounced deceased at the scene of the accident.

Gonzalez’s brother, who had been with him at the time of the accident, was not reported to have received physical injuries as a result of the crash. We can only imagine the emotional trauma he must have experienced having witnessed his brother’s death.

Investigation

Police initially indicated that the truck had last been seen driving south on Foothill Boulevard and that it had sustained significant damage to its right side. Although CHP suggest that the vehicle has been found, CHP has not made any comment so far regarding the status of the hit and run suspect.

Oroville CHP has asked that anybody with helpful information regarding the accident contact them using their non-emergency phone number, (530) 538-2700.

Hit-and-Run Accidents

Many individuals who have lost a loved one in a hit-and-run accident are unsure of how they will be able to claim recompenses for their losses when there is no party to hold financially accountable. However, there are still options if the at-fault driver isn’t found. These options include things such as uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage and medical payments coverage, both of which can often be claimed from insurance companies.

To learn more about what to do after a hit-and-run crash, you can call me.

More by Ed Smith, Oroville Personal Injury Lawyer

Oroville Personal Injury & Wrongful Death Lawyer

I’m Ed Smith, an Oroville personal injury lawyer. When negligent motorists cost people their lives, family members may seek compensation. If your loved one was killed in an auto accident, call me for friendly, free legal advice. You can use (530) 392-9400 as well as (800) 404-5400 or AutoAccident.com to contact my office.

For 36 years, my firm has assisted Oroville residents with personal injury and wrongful death damages to claim fair compensation.

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I’m a Million Dollar Advocate due to my previously settled and won cases that were worth over $1,000,000.

See my past Verdicts and Settlements.

I’m the founder of Northern CA’s leading comprehensive website for news and info about auto accidents and personal injuries, AutoAccident.com.

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Fatal Oroville Hit-and-Run