The woman was hit by a Ford Bronco at Beach Boulevard and Glencoe Drive, police say
HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA, (September 30, 2024) - A 51-year-old Costa Mesa woman was fatally struck by a car while riding her bicycle on a Huntington Beach street Monday morning, according to authorities.
Orange resident Elias Madriz Gutierrez was arrested shortly after leaving the scene of a crash that left a bicyclist dead Monday morning at Beach Boulevard and Glencoe Drive, police said.
The crash happened at Beach Boulevard and Glencoe Drive, police said.
A preliminary investigation found that the bicyclist was riding southbound in the far right lane on Beach north of Glencoe when a 2023 Ford Bronco hit her from behind. The driver who struck the cyclist fled the scene. However, he—identified as Elias Madriz Gutierrez, 68, of Orange—was later arrested on suspicion of a DUI hit-and-run fatal crash.
The Costa Mesa resident was transported to a hospital, where she died from injuries.
Authorities are investigating.
CRASH INVESTIGATION NEEDED
Failure to remain on the collision site can attract criminal charges, and the victim can also pursue a case against the driver.
Hit-and-run crashes killed around 2049 people in 2016— a 62% increase from 2009, the last year in which a downward trend was recorded. AAA said the data makes 2016 the deadliest year since the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began compiling statistics on fatal motor vehicle crashes in 1975.
“Having the proper resources is extremely important to investigate a pedestrian accident case and prove negligence,” said Candice Bond, an experienced hit-and-run accident attorney and a Managing Partner of Bond Legal.
“The driver always has to take great care behind the wheel,” Bond added.
WRONGFUL DEATH CLAIM
Pending the investigation, the family members of the victim may be entitled to a wrongful death claim. Family members of wrongful death victims may seek damages for loss of companionship, pain and suffering, and emotional distress following a catastrophic accident such as this incident.
“Stress and sorrow can be extremely overwhelming after losing a loved one in an accident,” said Bond, a national legal analyst for Newsline.
“A wrongful death lawyer will stay updated on the official investigation and help ensure that the victim's legal rights and best interests are protected.”
If you have been injured or a loved one has been killed at the hands of a hit-and-run driver and would like a no-cost consultation, our national legal analyst Candice Bond is available for a free consultation to guide you.
(Candice Bond, our national legal analyst, is a Managing Partner at Bond Legal. Newsline can and does use quotes from prior interviews with our analysts for our news articles. If you would like to contact Bond Legal to help you, please call 866-985-6515 or use the submission box found on this page. Legal analysts quoted may or may not be licensed in your state).