On Wednesday, March 18th, the Orange County Coroner’s Office, Orange County, California, released the name of the person who died in a tragic accident in Newport Beach. They identified her as a 45-year-old female, Aubrye Foote.
The coroner’s report showed that the deceased was involved in a vehicle-versus-pedestrian accident that occurred on Saturday, March 14th, on San Joaquin Hills Road, west of Newport Ridge Drive. Foote sustained severe injuries but was able to make it to the hospital alive.
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The doctors at Mission Hospital Regional Medical Center in Mission Viejo did all they could for the female pedestrian. Still, her injuries were extensive, and she passed away 35 minutes into her arrival at the hospital.
The Newport Beach Police Department investigated the crash but failed to reveal what caused the accident. The NBPD did not also tell if the driver that struck Foote remained at the scene of the accident or fled.
An accident often results in different criminal charges or civil lawsuits or both, depending on the facts of each case. When a driver knocks down a pedestrian, it becomes a hit-and-run offense under the California Vehicle Code.
The latter is irrespective of the pedestrian dying or surviving. However, if the pedestrian dies, then the driver would face an additional charge of vehicular manslaughter, which carries a minimum of four years in state prison and a maximum of ten.
The best way for drivers to avoid a criminal trial is to obey the law by remaining at the scene of the accident, and cooperating with the authorities.