Police Searching for Halloween Hit-and-Run Driver
A Halloween hit-and-run incident occurred in Diamond Springs, California, resulting in major injuries to a pedestrian. Authorities are requesting the public’s help in apprehending the suspect driver.
Facts of the Incident
At approximately 7:55 p.m. on Sunday, October 31, 2021, a pedestrian was struck by a vehicle and the driver fled the scene. The location of the incident was just north of Sunlight Drive on Patterson Drive. The pedestrian was transported by ambulance to a local hospital for treatment of injuries that were described as major.
Continuing Investigation of the Halloween Hit-and-Run
Hit-and-run is a crime. Fleeing the scene of an accident where a person suffered injuries brings the level of the crime to a felony. Investigators with the California Highway Patrol (CHP) are hoping that anyone who witnessed the pedestrian accident can help them identify the suspect driver and vehicle. If you have information about this incident, please call the Placerville Area office of the CHP at (530) 748-2450.
Pedestrian Accidents at Night
According to the Centers for Disease Control, the majority of pedestrian accidents happen at night. When there are no witnesses to the incident, a nighttime hit-and-run of a pedestrian can be a difficult mystery to solve. It is important to locate the suspect driver so that the injured party can seek justice – both criminal and civil.
Why are Most Pedestrian Accidents at Night?
It may seem like there is one obvious reason that the majority of vehicle-versus-pedestrian accidents happen at night – darkness. That is certainly a primary factor, but it is not the only one. There are other circumstances that can lead to nighttime accidents that result in injuries to pedestrians. Below are some other common causes:
- Impaired drivers. More than half of all accidents that involve a drunk driver happen in the evening hours. Drunk driving instances increase on holidays, as well. It may never be known whether the Diamond Springs driver was impaired at the time of the collision since he or she fled the scene. Impaired drivers are more likely to flee the scene of an accident, however.
- Decreased visibility. Coupled with the natural darkness, poor street lighting can lead to decreased visibility. Cloudy nights are darker than evenings with strong moonlight. If a vehicle has improper headlights, that can also reduce visibility. Whenever there are instances of decreased visibility, there is less time for a driver to react to an unexpected object in the road.
- Bad weather. Halloween evening in Northern California was clear and mild. However, when it is snowy, rainy, or icy at night, that increases the likelihood of all types of accidents.
- Depth perception. A driver’s depth perception can be reduced in darkness, which further reduces reaction times.
Despite all the factors that can play into causing a pedestrian accident at night, it is the responsibility of the driver to keep a lookout for people crossing the street. This is especially true on Halloween. While some nights, a motorist may be able to claim that they did not expect to see a pedestrian in a particular area, on Halloween, the streets are known to be full of children on foot.
Watch the YouTube video. The clip below goes over safety tips for pedestrians walking near traffic.
Placerville Personal Injury Lawyer
Thanks for reading our report on this Halloween hit-and-run in Diamond Springs. My name is Ed Smith, and I’m a Placerville personal injury lawyer. The experienced injury attorneys at AutoAccident.com have been helping Placerville and Diamond Springs residents with their accident claims for nearly 40 years. We also expertly and compassionately handle wrongful death claims for grieving families. If you would like to receive our free and friendly advice following a car crash, call us at (530) 392-9400 or (800) 404-5400.
Photo Attribution: Joshua Coleman via Unsplash
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