A motorcyclist was killed Monday in south Sacramento after slamming into a car that had just pulled an illegal U-turn on Florin Road, and the driver who triggered the crash took off before officers arrived, authorities said.
The rider was rushed toward a hospital but died while en route, according to investigators.
According to CBS Sacramento, the driver was heading south on Power Inn Road, turned onto westbound Florin Road, then used a turnout to make the illegal U-turn. A motorcyclist traveling eastbound on Florin could not stop in time and hit the passenger side of the vehicle.
The outlet reported that the rider died on the way to the hospital and that investigators said the other driver fled southbound on Power Inn Road. Investigators have described the suspect vehicle as a possible 2018 bright-blue Nissan Maxima.
Florin And Power Inn A Repeat Trouble Spot
The intersection of Power Inn Road and Florin Road is already on Sacramento County’s short list of danger zones. The county’s Sacramento County Local Road Safety Plan ranks it among the top 10 locations for fatal and serious-injury crashes, logging six such collisions in a five-year analysis.
County transportation officials have a Florin Road bike-and-pedestrian improvements project in the works for the corridor between Franklin Boulevard and Power Inn Road. A county newsletter says the effort is aimed at cutting down conflicts and improving visibility, with planned measures such as updated striping, new signs and targeted crossings intended to slow drivers and reduce dangerous turning movements.
Recent Deadly Crashes On The Corridor
The latest death is not an isolated case along this stretch of Florin. In March, a woman was killed in a hit-and-run on Florin Road, as reported by The Sacramento Bee. County crash data identify improper turning and nighttime alcohol-involved driving as leading contributors to serious collisions along the corridor.
What California Hit-And-Run Law Requires
Under California law, leaving the scene of a crash that causes injury or death is not just bad behavior, it is a potential felony.
Vehicle Code section 20001 states that “the driver of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to a person ... or in the death of a person shall immediately stop the vehicle at the scene of the accident,” according to the California Legislative Information site. Penalties can include time in state prison.
When determining charges, prosecutors typically weigh factors such as whether the driver tried to help the victim or attempted to hide the vehicle after fleeing.
The California Highway Patrol is leading the investigation. CBS Sacramento reported that the fleeing vehicle was last seen heading southbound on Power Inn Road.
Authorities have not yet released the name of the motorcyclist or any suspect description. Investigators are still asking the public for tips and information about the crash. This story will be updated if CHP or other agencies release additional details.
