UPDATE: SAN JACINTO: Police seek public’s assistance after fatal hit and run

UPDATE: 10/20/2016 11:08 a.m.

Deputies from all over San Jacinto responded to the hit and run collision. John Strangis photo

SAN JACINTO – Officials from the Riverside County Sheriff’s San Jacinto Police Station are asking for the public’s help in identifying the car and driver who struck and killed an elderly pedestrian in San Jacinto October 10. The victim of the hit and run was transported to a local hospital where he remained in critical condition until today when he succumbed to his injuries.

An investigation conducted by sheriff’s officials immediately after the deadly collision revealed 70-year-old Clark Chase was on foot in the southbound lane of San Jacinto Avenue near the curb when he was struck by a vehicle traveling south on San Jacinto Avenue, according to Riverside Sheriff’s Sergeant Himmelberg. The fatal hit and run happened south of E. Menlo and north of E. Midway Avenues in San Jacinto.

Deputies identified and spoke with potential witnesses to the accident. John Strangis photo

Witnesses to the fatal collision told investigating deputies the vehicle stopped momentarily after the collision but quickly fled the scene without rendering medical aid or calling 911. Chase remained in critical condition at a local hospital until he succumbed to his injuries earlier today.

A witness described the vehicle as a dark-colored Honda Civic with a California license plate that included the numbers “74”. Earlier reports indicated the vehicle might have been dark green.

Anyone having information regarding this incident is asked to call the San Jacinto Police Department at (951) 654-2702. Callers can refer to incident file number I162840101 and can remain anonymous. Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s CrimeTips online form.

ORIGINAL STORY: Pedestrian crossing street critically injured by hit and run driver

Deputies block of northbound San Jacinto Ave. traffic while they conduct an investigation. John Strangis photo

SAN JACINTO – A pedestrian was critically injured when he was hit while crossing San Jacinto Avenue between E. Menlo and E. Midway Avenues in San Jacinto Monday, Oct. 10. The driver who hit the pedestrian fled the scene after the accident.

The accident happened while the pedestrian was crossing the street between the San Jacinto Valley Cemetery and the San Jacinto Valley Certified Farmers’ Market.

The accident happened in the same general area where a wheelchair-bound man was fatally hit Oct 5 as he was crossing the street illegally.

Deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff’s San Jacinto Police Station, San Jacinto firefighters and AMR medics responded to the location after someone called 911 to report the accident at about 11 p.m.

Deputies, firefighters and AMR medics all responded to the reported hit and run. Ricardo Ruelas photo

Emergency first responders began arriving within minutes of the initially dispatched call and located the pedestrian down in the roadway.

Paramedics treated the victim at the scene before transporting him in critical condition to a local hospital. The victim has not been publicly identified and no updates regarding his medical condition have been provided.

Deputies conducted a thorough accident investigation and spoke with potential witnesses to the hit and run.

Witnesses told investigating deputies the pedestrian was crossing the dark roadway outside of an established cross walk when a dark-colored or possibly green Honda Civic struck him, according to sheriff officials. The driver failed to stop or attempt to render first aid to the critically injured pedestrian.

Some of the victim’s personal affects remained in the roadway after the hit and run. John Strangis photo

The vehicle that struck the pedestrian was last seen fleeing the scene northbound on San Jacinto Avenue. Some witnesses stated the car possibly had a flat front tire as it sped away.

San Jacinto Avenue was closed between E. Menlo and E. Midway Avenues while deputies conducted an investigation into the hit and run.

Deputies from all over San Jacinto responded to the hit and run collision. John Strangis photo

Deputies were at the scene of the hit and run for several hours after the accident. John Strangis photo

Deputies identified and spoke with potential witnesses to the accident. John Strangis photo

Deputies not needed at the scene of the accident quickly headed off to search for the suspect’s vehicle. John Strangis photo

Deputies block of northbound San Jacinto Ave. traffic while they conduct an investigation. John Strangis photo

Deputies discuss details related to the hit and run traffic collision. John Strangis photo

San Jacinto ave. remained closed for several hours while deputies conducted an accident investigation. John Strangis photo

Some of the victim’s personal items remained in the roadway after the hit and run. John Strangis photo

Traffic was diverted away from San Jacinto Avenue in the area of the collision for several hours. John Strangis photo

Numerous emergency first respnders rushed to the scene of the hit and run collision. Ricardo Ruelas photo

Deputies, firefighters and AMR medics all responded to the reported hit and run. Ricardo Ruelas photo

Fire personnel leave the scene after the victim was transported toa local hospital. Ricardo Ruelas photo

Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg in an off-duty accident.

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations, including the Robert Presley Detention Center, the Southwest Station in Temecula, the Hemet Station, and the Lake Elsinore Station, along with many other locations.