Forte Fatally Struck in Bakersfield Hit-and-Run Pedestrian Incident on Fourth of July
BAKERSFIELD, CA, (July 04, 2025) - A 56-year-old man was tragically killed in a suspected hit-and-run crash on the Fourth of July in Bakersfield.
Richard Daniel Forte, 56, was tragically killed in a hit-and-run collision on the Fourth of July along South Union Avenue in south Bakersfield, according to a news release.
According to the Bakersfield Police Department, the incident occurred around 9:39 a.m. in the 8300 block of South Union Avenue. Officers responding to a report of a person down found Richard Daniel Forte on the shoulder of the road near the northbound lanes, suffering from major injuries.
Forte, a Bakersfield resident, sadly died at the scene.
Police said the driver involved fled the area. Anyone with information is urged to contact BPD at (661) 327-7111.
The crash remains under investigation.
CRASH INVESTIGATION NEEDED
Even a minute's delay in medical attention after a serious crash can cost a life. Leaving the scene helps no one — not the victim, and not the driver. An average of 682,000 hit-and-run crashes occurred each year since 2006. Nearly 65 percent of people killed in hit-and-run crashes were pedestrians or bicyclists, according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.
“In most instances, pedestrians possess the right of way when crossing an intersection or a street regardless of if they are in a marked crosswalk,” said Candice Bond, Managing Partner of Bond Legal and an experienced hit-and-run accident attorney.
“Road conditions, signage visibility, and road lighting are all possible contributing factors that are considered and must thoroughly be examined. These procedures are necessary for helping those who have lost a loved one receive the justice that they deserve.”
Time is of the essence in cases such as this, and the family of a victim must be ensured that evidence is reviewed in an efficient manner.
“It is almost always a driver’s duty to yield to any pedestrian,” said Candice Bond, Managing Partner at Bond Legal. The family of Richard Daniel Forte may be entitled to a wrongful death claim.
“Family members of wrongful death victims may seek damages for loss of income and companionship, pain and suffering, funeral expenses, and emotional distress following a tragic or catastrophic crash,” added Bond.
“Insurance companies often try to pressure victims to settle for a quick payout for far less than the case is worth,” Bond noted. “However, an attorney will vigorously advocate for their client to ensure they are treated with respect and compensated fairly.”
If you’ve been injured or lost a loved one in a hit-and-run, national legal analyst Candice Bond is available for a free, no-obligation consultation.
(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).