By Reyes Navarrete, Feb.6, 2024
An investigation is still ongoing after a 40-year-old man was fatally struck by a hit-and-run driver near the intersection of Temple Avenue and Foley Way, Tuesday Jan. 23, police said.
The hit-and-run was reported to Pomona police at 6:21 p.m., Tuesday evening according to the Pomona Police Department. The incident happened less than two miles away from Cal Poly Pomona near the on and off ramp of the 57 freeway.
According to the police crime bulletin, the victim was found in traffic when they arrived at the scene. Evidence at the scene suggests the victim was struck trying to cross the intersection of Temple Avenue by an unidentified motorist, according to the Pomona Police Traffic Services.
The Pomona Fire Department paramedics rushed the man to a nearby hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries. The victim was described as Hispanic, in his 40s, yet his identity has not been released pending notification of relatives by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner.
The Pomona Police Department Major Accident Investigation team is investigating the incident. No information is currently available about the vehicle, or the driver involved.
Although CPP campus police were not involved with handling this incident, they often respond to vehicle hit-and-run crimes that result in property damage. With any incident, Donald Nyeholt, University Police corporal, suggests being a good witness, writing down a license plate and any kind of description possible, but don’t approach the perpetrator.
“We can’t see everything on the campus, so we rely on the students and faculty, that’s good eyes and ears for everybody,” Nyeholt said. “If you see something that looks out of place, contact us.” According to Nyeholt, it is a good idea to have the campus police number on speed dial at (909) 869-3070 for emergencies or dial 911 on the blue emergency phones around campus, but if students can’t remember the UPD number, just dial 911 and the California Highway Patrol will transfer the matter to campus dispatch.
Keerthana Dadi, a food science and technology student who lives on campus, feels the university is safe as she walks and takes the shuttle around campus. She thinks most people are cautious and hopes everyone would respect the law even if there isn’t something to hold people to account.
“Hopefully they do report and be like, I hit somebody, but I feel like it’s just easy to get away with it if there’s no cameras or if they know they won’t be able to track them,” Dadi said.
Pomona police ask if anyone with information about the hit-and-run contact investigators at (909) 802-7741. Anonymous tipsters can contact Crime Stoppers at 1 (800) 222-8477 or at lacrimestoppers.org.
Feature Image Courtesy of Cole Allen.