Kevin Evans Died In Long Beach Hit-And-Run Semi-Truck Accident While Riding Bicycle Along The Pacific Coast Highway and Harbor Avenue
LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA (February 16, 2023) – A bicyclist identified as Kevin Evans has died in a Long Beach hit-and-run semi-truck accident on the Pacific Coast Highway by Harbor Avenue.
Los Angeles County officials are saying that the collision took place around 9:16 a.m. on Tuesday. Kevin Evans fell off of his bicycle before being hit by a semi-truck pulling a cargo container.
The driver of the semi-truck kept going eastbound on the Pacific Coast Highway. Paramedics were called to the scene in order to help the victim.
Sadly, the bicyclist was beyond medical aid and pronounced dead at the scene. New information has been released about the accident.
Kevin Evans was on his way to volunteer for Closet Care Long Beach prior to his death. He was passionate about helping people struggling with homelessness.
Kathy Robertshaw, the victim’s girlfriend, described him as a selfless and caring person that always put other people first.
Liability For Long Beach Hit-And-Run Collisions
California has one of the highest instances of hit-and-run car accidents in the United States. According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, “In 2016, there were 1,980 fatal hit-and-run crashes resulting in 2,049 fatalities. This is the highest annual number of hit-and-run fatalities or crashes recorded since NHTSA began compiling statistics on fatal motor vehicle crashes in 1975.” Many truck drivers do not realize when they hit pedestrians. This could be due to many different reasons.
- A truck driver may have been distracted by their phone.
- A truck driver may not have been paying attention to the road ahead of them.
- A truck driver may have been traveling too fast for the prevailing conditions.
All truck drivers must exercise a great deal of care in order to avoid collisions. Pursuant to California Vehicle Code 21950, the driver of a vehicle shall reduce their speed and take any other action necessary to safeguard the well-being of a pedestrian in the roadway. If a driver fails to slow down and hits a pedestrian, this could form the basis of a negligence claim.
The company that a truck driver worked for could also potentially be held at fault for a crash. In general, companies are liable for the wrongful actions of their employees – insofar as those employees were working within the course and scope of their job duties. For example, a truck driver may have been delivering packages when they hit a bicyclist. There are many steps that should be taken after any hit-and-run collision.
- Fragments of the fleeing truck should be sought.
- Medical records should be preserved.
- Photos of the accident site should be taken.
- A thorough investigation should be conducted.
When a truck driver keeps going after hitting a pedestrian, this tends to be strong evidence that they were not adequately paying attention to the road. The family of any person that is killed in a semi-truck accident may seek some measure of justice through a wrongful death claim. Damages in a civil claim can help cover many of the expenses that come with the sudden loss of a loved one.
Investigating A Los Angeles County Hit-And-Run Collision
We at TorkLaw extend our deepest condolences to the family of Kevin Evans. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to police. The truck driver involved in this crash should do the right thing and come forward. It is never too late to do the right thing.
Do you need more information about a Long Beach hit-and-run collision? Our team of bicycle safety advocates are here to answer any questions that you may have. We care deeply that accident victims are aware of their rights and that those rights are being protected. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into any collision we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (888) 441-4991.
