Pedestrian airlifted in critical condition after hit by two cars on Hwy. 273

REDDING — A man was airlifted with major traumatic injuries after he was struck by two vehicles Tuesday night, Oct. 2. The accident happened on Highway SR 273  at S. Bonnyview Road in Redding. One of the two vehicles that struck the victim fled the scene, Redding PD later reported.

According to witnesses the man ran into the street and was not in or near any marked cross walks when he was struck.

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City of Redding Police and Fire Departments, along with other emergency personnel, were dispatched to the accident about 9:10 p.m., after receiving multiple reports of a vehicle versus pedestrian collision involving two vehicles, Redding Police Officer J. Stark later explained.

911 callers reported that the pedestrian was down in the roadway and that one of the two vehicles that struck the victim fled the scene after running the man’s body over.

Officials began arriving within minutes and found the pedestrian still down in the roadway with major head injuries. Based on the severity of the man’s injuries, firefighters at the scene requested an air ambulance respond to airlift the victim.

Paramedics did their best to stabilize the victim, before an air ambulance rushed the critically injured man to Mercy Medical Center. Officials have not released the victim’s name pending further investigation, Stark explained.

During their preliminary on-scene investigation officers determined the pedestrian, who was wearing all dark clothing, was struck while crossing Hwy. 273 outside of a cross walk.

The first vehicle that struck the man was being driven by Cassandra Zucco, 55, of Redding. According to witnesses, she had been traveling southbound “at a normal speed and had a green light,” Stark explained.

The second vehicle that struck the victim, described as a dark SUV with lower, front-end damage, did not stop or attempt to render aid and fled southbound on 273.

Zucco was uninjured in the collision and when officers evaluated her at the scene they determined she was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

“It is unknown whether the pedestrian was under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of the collision,” said Stark.

During their investigation, officials called for the closure of all southbound lanes on Hwy. 273, and the road was reopened at the conclusion of the initial investigation.

Anyone with additional information regarding this collision or who witnessed the collision is encouraged to contact the Redding Police Department at (530) 225-4200. Callers can refer to incident file number 18-71161 and can remain anonymous.

 

Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, 47, recently moved to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for several other news organizations; including Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News, The Valley Chronicle, and Anza Valley Outlook; as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County and Mountain Echo in Shasta County.

Trevor 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, breaking his back, and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s accident.)

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations; including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center, and Lake Elsinore Station; along with other locations.

Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.

Trevor has been married for more than 28 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and his “fluid family” includes 13 children and 14 – but soon to be 16 – grandchildren.