The lawless state of California tops the list for the highest number of hit-and-run accidents resulting in fatalities in the US.
In the past four years, the Golden State has seen nearly 2,000 fatal crashes involving drivers fleeing the area.
More than one in 10 accidents in the state involved a collision, according to a study by personal injury law firm Suzuki Law Offices. The research used data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration from 2017 to 2021.
Overall, about 10.48 percent of crashes in the state involved a hit-and-run, compared to a rate of 6.3 percent nationwide.
In California, the number of fatal wrecks involving driver departures was more than 10 percent between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. To be precise, the percentage was above 17 percent between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m.
‘This suggests that most collisions occur because the driver wants to avoid detection and the consequences of their actions. “But hitting a pedestrian with a car and fleeing the scene could potentially endanger their lives and lead to more serious legal consequences,” the law firm said.
California came in at 10.48 percent and had the highest rate of fatal collisions in the US. Illinois, New Jersey, Alaska and Hawaii also made the top five
California has recorded that 1,901 of the 16,326 fatalities involved a collision. During rush hour, there is heavy traffic on Interstate 10 in downtown Los Angeles
Illinois was second with 452 of the 4,731 fatal crashes involving a collision. Cars are seen on the Kennedy Expressway in Chicago
There were 16,326 fatalities in California, 1,901 of which involved hit-and-runs.
Recent data from the California Office of Traffic Safety shows that fatal collisions increased nearly 3.5 percent from 2021 to 2022.
Illinois followed with 452 of the 4,731 fatal crashes involving a collision. Ranked at No. 2, Illinois came in with an 8.72 percent rate in fatal crashes.
In third place was New Jersey with a rate of 8.5 percent, as 243 of the 2,614 fatal crashes involved a driver fleeing the scene.
Alaska and Hawaii tied at an overall rate of 8.49 percent, but of Alaska’s 291 fatal crashes, 27 involved a hit-and-run.
In Hawaii, 41 of the 442 fatal crashes involved a collision.
New Jersey came in third with a rate of 8.5 percent, as 243 of the 2,614 fatalities involved a collision. Cars are seen driving along Atlantic Avenue in Atlantic City
On December 22, a hit-and-run suspect killed two young brothers in Antioch, California. Arsenio Rabb, 12, and Amahjè Emenike, 13, were on their way to a store with their father when they were hit by an SUV
Surveillance footage captured a hit-and-run that occurred on November 9 when a white BMW sped toward a motorcyclist and killed him in Los Angeles.
The other five states that made the top 10 were New Mexico, New York, Connecticut, Arizona and Texas.
On December 22, a hit-and-run suspect killed two young brothers in Antioch, about 45 miles (72 kilometers) east of San Francisco.
Police responded to a reported traffic collision at an intersection around 11:30 p.m., Antioch police said in a statement.
The two victims, Arsenio Rabb, 12, and Amahjè Emenike, 13, were on their way to a store with their father when they were struck by an SUV at the intersection of West Sixth Street and G Street.
“It only took me about two seconds to feel, to really recover and get over the initial shock, only to look to my right and see the entire right side of your car crushing my babies,” the father of the boy, Amanze Emenike. NBC Bay Area.
The driver of the SUV fled on foot and was not apprehended by police. Witnesses said it was a horrific scene and the boys were clearly in appalling conditions when they found them.
On November 9, shocking footage emerged of a collision that left a motorcyclist dead when he was mowed down by a BMW driver in Los Angeles.
Surveillance footage captured a Harley Davidson rider waiting to turn left from a strip mall parking lot on the 8600 block of North Woodley Avenue in North Hills around 6:40 p.m.
A white truck was then seen entering the same parking lot, temporarily obstructing the motorcyclist’s view. After the white truck was freed, the motorcyclist continued down the road.
Adriana Sanchez, 50, was walking her two dogs in the Los Angeles city of North Hills around 6 a.m. when the vehicle struck them in the marked crosswalk before they fled the scene.
But out of nowhere, a white BMW came towards the motorcyclist at high speed when the two collided, sending pieces of their bike flying across the road.
Pieces of metal are scattered on the road surface as the BMW continued driving and did not return to check the condition of the driver who was hit.
Los Angeles police have received multiple calls about a three-vehicle crash in the San Fernando Valley and have not yet identified a suspect or victims involved in the case.
Adriana Sanchez was hit while walking across a marked crosswalk. She was then taken to hospital.
Sanchez’s daughter Naomi Hidalgo was heartbroken and determined to find the driver responsible.