On Sunday, June 28th, a female pedestrian died from injuries sustained in a hit-and-run accident in Fresno County, California. The county sheriff’s office identified the victim as Heather Martinez, 41, of Fresno.
According to the California Highway Patrol, the auto-pedestrian collision happened at about 2:30 a.m. on Highway 180 near Minkler. The event that led to the accident began with Martinez driving on the highway lane near Piedra Road. The woman pulled over for unknown reasons and exited her vehicle.
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The investigators said that the victim walked within the shoulder of the roadway, where a 2000 Toyota ultimately struck her. When paramedics arrived at the scene, they found Martinez lying on the road unresponsive and pronounced her dead.
The female driver of the Toyota, Kenia Rodriguez, 32, fled the scene after hitting the pedestrian, but officers found her a short while after. They determined she was under the influence of alcohol and took her into custody.
The CHP booked the driver into the Fresno County Jail on charges of felony hit-and-run and DUI. There is no information on Rodriguez’s bail bond, and the investigation into the accident is ongoing.
A DUI and a hit-and-run are severe offenses under the California Vehicle Code. In convicting a person of the two, the court would look at the offender’s behavior and the fact that he or she knowingly committed an illegal or failed to perform a legal act. A guilty verdict often means time in jail, a fine, and suspension of driving privileges.
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.