On Sunday, January 7th, a hit-and-run was reported at the intersection of Sand Canyon Rd. and Soledad Canyon Rd. in Canyon Country. The victim was driving a blue Hyundai when she said she was hit by another motorist driving a silver Nissan. The victim said that after the collision, the other driver took off. She did not know which direction the other driver went.

Police arrived on the scene about 10 minutes after the report was made, though the other driver was already long gone. There wasn’t much damage to the victim’s car, other than some cosmetic marks on the front bumper.

Since no injuries were reported as a result of the collision, the other driver will likely face misdemeanor charges. Misdemeanor hit-and-runs are covered under California Vehicle Code 20002a VC and are described as fleeing the scene of an accident causing only property damage.

Hit-and-Run Examples

A few examples of hit-and-run crimes include: hitting another vehicle on the road then driving away, hitting a light pole or street sign and then driving away, and hitting a parked vehicle and then driving away without leaving your contact info for the owner.

For someone to be convicted of a hit-and-run, the prosecutor must prove:

  • You were involved in an accident while driving
  • The accident caused damage to someone else’s property
  • You knew you were involved in the accident (or should reasonably have known)
  • You willfully failed to stop after the accident

Everyone involved in an accident has to stop, whether the collision was their fault or not. Interestingly, it isn’t a crime to leave the scene of the accident if the accident didn’t result in damage to the other car or injuries to another person. However, accidents like this are exceedingly rare and it’s always a good idea to stop whether you think you did any damage or not.

The penalties for misdemeanor hit-and-run include up to 1 year in county jail and/or a fine of up to $1,000.

Robin Sandoval

Robin Sandoval

Robin Sandoval is a California Licensed Bail Bondsman and owner of SCV Bail Bonds. Robin writes blogs and articles to help increase community awareness of the bail industry. If you have questions or want to suggest a topic, email robin@scvbailbonds.com, visit www.scvbailbonds.com or call 661-299-2245.
Robin Sandoval
Robin Sandoval
Robin Sandoval

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