Porterville, CA (April 4, 2024) A pedestrian was struck by a hit-and-run vehicle on West Henderson Avenue on Wednesday, April 3rd. While the pedestrian survived the collision, they received serious injuries. It happened just after 8:00 p.m. in Porterville, according to the Porterville Police Department.
The pedestrian was walking along West Henderson Avenue when, right at 8:10 p.m., they were suddenly hit by the vehicle. The force of the impact threw the pedestrian where they landed, hard, in the roadway. The driver then hit the gas and fled the scene, leaving the pedestrian behind with serious injuries.
Emergency crews arrived at the scene and found the pedestrian lying in the middle of the roadway. Paramedics loaded them into an ambulance and rushed them to the nearest hospital to receive treatment.
There was one person who witnessed the accident and saw the driver speed away. They followed the driver to a business in the 700 block of South Jaye Street, where they called the police. Officers arrived and found the driver, identified as 57-year-old Salvador Arellano-Espinoza. He was taken into custody on hit-and-run charges as well as DUI charges, officers said. He was booked into the South County Detention Facility on a $50,000 bail.
As drivers, we have an obligation to look out for pedestrians. We must all work together to make our roads a safer place for everyone.
Our team at Accident News Now wishes a speedy and full recovery to the pedestrian who was injured in this hit-and-run accident. We know that in times like these, medical bills can add up and pain and suffering are a legitimate concern. Our team of legal experts is here to offer assistance during this time, or to simply answer any legal questions you may have. They are available any time, day or night.