The life of a pregnant woman and her unborn baby ended on Sunday night, August 2nd, after a car struck them in Fresno, California. The Fresno Police Department said that Autumn Frank was crossing the street within a crosswalk around 10:30 p.m. when the incident occurred.
The victim was in the area of Marks and Swift. The accident report disclosed that 32-year-old Kenneth Carter drove his rental vehicle, which witnesses described as a red SUV at top speed down the street. The man failed to stop after striking Frank.
Have you or a loved one been involved in an accident? Speak to a lawyer for a free no obligation consultation
Or call us at (888) 699-7975
Twenty-four minutes after the incident, the suspect called dispatchers to report an accident, but he claimed he struck an animal. Sgt. Jeff LaBlue said that Carter informed them that he wanted to report that there might be an animal in the area.
The police later uncovered that it was Frank, and although medics were able to get her to the hospital alive, she and her fetus passed away while undergoing treatment. The suspect surrendered at the FPD station, and also brought the car he was driving as evidence.
The investigators said that the man has a lengthy criminal past, including drugs and weapon violations. They determined that Carter indeed drove the SUV and also have video evidence implicating him.
The police placed the suspect under arrest on several felony charges, including a hit-and-run. He might also face two counts of vehicular homicide if autopsy results confirm that Frank’s fetus would have been viable if not for the accident. There is no additional information.
Disclaimer: The Safety Watch article you just read includes information obtained from numerous sources. These sources include, but are not limited to, websites and press releases from law enforcement, the county coroner, fire departments, and other news outlets. While we strive to provide readers with the most accurate information, sometimes the information received is not entirely accurate. For complete details, please refer to an official police report.
The articles published contain sensitive subject matter that may be hard to read by some. We understand that losing a loved one is hard and devastating. Safety Watch’s decision to share the stories is to help others who may be facing the same situations by providing appropriate resources to the general public.