Frank Paneno, an 83-year-old man, was critically injured in a hit-and-run collision in Pasadena the morning of September 1, 2010. Officials are looking for suspect Lucio Morales, also known as Martin Beltran, who they say drove a 1994 Mercedes Benz S500 that struck Paneno at the intersection of Cordova Street and Chester Avenue. Paneno was apparently riding a motorized scooter in the bike lane when Morales, attempting to turn left from Cordova onto Chester Avenue, hit him.
Critical Injuries
Pasadena police officials say Morales and another passenger pulled the injured Paneno and his scooter from under the car, left him lying on the street and fled from the scene. Police are on the lookout for Morales. He is described as a Latino man, 5-foot-8 weighing 160 pounds with wavy black hair. Paneno sustained several serious injuries including broken ribs, head trauma and other injuries. Police found the abandoned Mercedes, but Morales remains at large.
My heart goes out to Frank Paneno and his family. I hope he makes it out of these critical injuries and recovers completely. Please keep this injured victim and his family in your thoughts and prayers.
I trust officials will promptly apprehend Morales and bring him and his passenger to justice. If this newspaper account is accurate, Morales not only seriously injured this elderly man, but also callously left him on the roadway, after pulling him and his scooter out from under the Mercedes. Despicable!
Hit-and-Run Statistics and Law
According to the California Highway Patrol's traffic accident statistics, there were 17,158 hit-and-run collisions that resulted in fatalities or injuries in California in 2008. A majority of these car accidents involved injuries. There were a total of 247 deaths in 2008 involving hit-and-run collisions statewide.
Leaving the scene of an accident is not only an inhumane act, but it is also illegal under California law. California Vehicle Code Section 20001 (a) states: "The driver of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to a person, other than himself or herself, or in the death of a person shall immediately stop the vehicle at the scene of the accident."
Compensation Issues
In such cases it would be in the best interests of injured victims to seek the counsel of an experienced Los Angeles personal injury lawyer, who will stay on top of the official investigation and ensure that their legal rights are protected. A knowledgeable car accident lawyer will also be able to advise victims about how their car insurance policy might apply in a case where the at-fault driver is uninsured or underinsured.
If you have any information about this accident or the suspect, or any other hit-and-run injury collision, and would like to know about how you can leave an anonymous tip and qualify for a $1,000 reward, please visit our web site, www.hitandrunreward.com. The offenders have acted wrongfully and must be punished.
What would you do if you saw a driver leaving the scene of an accident? How would you react?
The BISNAR|CHASE personal injury law firm is not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call us or another reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free consultation. We provide a free, confidential consultation to not at fault persons named in this article. The free consultation offer extends to family members as well.
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