Woman in Wheelchair Struck and Killed by Hit-and-Run Driver in Bakersfield
A 46-year-old woman in a wheelchair was struck and ran over by a hit-and-run driver in a crosswalk Saturday night, Bakersfield police reported. The accident occurred in the 800 block of Union Avenue (California State Route 204) at 8:28 p.m. The woman, identified as Guadalupe "Lupe" Delgadillo, was crossing the street in a crosswalk when she was struck. She died at about 3 a.m. the next morning at Kern Medical Center, the Bakersfield Californian reported.
Police are asking for the public's help in identifying the driver of the vehicle that struck Delgadillo. The car is believed to be a small gray or silver sedan, likely with visible damaged to the front end. Anyone with information is asked to contact Bakersfield Police at (661) 327-7111.
Bakersfield Pedestrian Accidents
There were a number of fatal pedestrian accidents in Bakersfield last year. On August 30, 2009, a 77-year-old woman in a wheelchair died after she was struck and killed on Redbank Road in Bakersfield. On August 22, 2009, a 54-year-old Bakersfield woman was struck and killed while walking in the 2700 block of Union Avenue. And last June, a 55-year-old man was killed when he was struck by a Ford F-350 pickup truck while riding his bicycle on South Union Avenue. The driver in that crash was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol.
Hit and Run Accidents & Liability Issues
While this crash is still being investigated, the family of the victim may benefit from speaking to a California wrongful death attorney. If the driver is located, the family of the woman killed may be entitled to compensation for their loss in a civil claim for wrongful death. An attorney experienced in hit-and-run accident cases can aid in the search efforts to locate the driver, preserve evidence and explain how the victim's own insurance policy may apply, if she had one.
When a hit and run accident results in a fatality, the driver is usually charged with a felony. Under California law, a hit-and-run felony is defined as "a failure to immediately stop at the scene of a motor vehicle accident involving death or permanent injury." For the family's sake, we hope that the driver of the vehicle involved in this collision is located or turns himself or herself in.
Continue reading "Woman in Wheelchair Struck and Killed by Hit-and-Run Driver in Bakersfield " »
