A driver fled on foot late Friday after slamming into two other vehicles near San Antonio and Lincoln avenues in Pomona, abandoning the vehicle and disappearing into the night.
The crash was reported around 7:48 p.m. Friday, according to the Pomona Police Department, as reported by KTLA. Police said the driver struck the other vehicles, then ran from the scene on foot, leaving their own car behind. No one involved in the crash was taken to a hospital; victims were treated at the scene, per the outlet's report.
Officers brought in a police K-9 to try to track the fleeing driver, but the search came up empty and the driver remained outstanding as of early Saturday. Police have not released a description of the driver, and investigators have not disclosed additional details about what led up to the crash. The investigation remains ongoing.
Fire Hydrant and Verizon Pole Struck
Beyond the vehicle damage, the crash's reported effects are not detailed here. Safety flanges and couplings can protect underground infrastructure in some slower-speed collisions, but higher-speed impacts can break the water main, according to Supply Insights. Utility pole strikes are hardly rare in the region; vehicles hit poles roughly 2,500 times a year across Southern California, with repairs ranging from about $7,500 for a standard pole to more than $100,000 for complex transmission infrastructure, per Energized by Edison.
San Antonio Avenue, where the crash occurred, runs past Jaycee Park. The San Bernardino County Transportation Authority report cited here does not establish additional details about the avenue. A fatal collision killed a 13-year-old boy riding an e-scooter in a Hoodline report from April.
What Charges the Driver Could Face
The available report says no one was taken to a hospital, but it does not establish whether the crash caused injuries. California Vehicle Code Section 20002 covers hit-and-run collisions involving property damage alone. That statute carries a maximum penalty of up to six months in county jail, fines up to $1,000, two points on a driving record, and mandatory restitution, according to the Shouse Law Group. Had the crash resulted in injury or death, prosecutors could instead pursue felony charges under Vehicle Code Section 20001, which allows for 90 days to four years in state prison and fines between $1,000 and $10,000, per the Eisner Gorin LLP.
Investigators Turn to the Public for Leads
Investigators continue to examine the crash; the City of Pomona page provides department information. Anyone with information about the crash or the driver's identity can contact the Traffic Services Bureau at 909-620-2081, or report tips anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.
The incident is another traffic crash in the city. Additional city and statewide traffic-safety statistics are not included here.
Pomona has seen other traffic incidents this year, including Hoodline's coverage from earlier this year. For now, the driver behind Friday night's crash remains at large, and police continue to investigate.
