A cyclist was hit by an orange pickup truck near Fresno City College’s parking garage on Weldon and Blackstone Ave. on Jan 28 at noon. Emergency medical services were called, but no major injuries were reported by State Center Community College police.
The driver of the truck continued onto Blackstone Ave. after the collision and was identified by a witness, according to SCCCD Chief of Police Jose Flores.
Flores said it’s possible that the driver may have been a student.
SCCCD police officers standing next to the fleeing driver’s orange pickup truck on Weldon and Blackstone Ave. on Jan 28. (Photo by: Katrina Saldivar)
Flores said the incident was a “minor crime” misdemeanor, meaning the victim could make a citizen’s arrest if desired.
“If someone’s injured and hurt and you left, you can go to prison for that. That’s a felony. If it’s just something like this, it possibly is a misdemeanor, but you will have to go to court to explain why you left the scene of an accident,” Flores said.
The victim retained mobility and was seated in an SCCCDPD golf cart after the incident. He chose to remain anonymous.
“I was just coming across the street and he stopped and continued to drive after I got closer,” he said.
Photo of the victim’s bike after the collision near the SCCCD Police Department building on Weldon Ave. on Jan 28. (Photo by: Miley Araujo)
“It should have been obvious that he was struck by something, by a pedestrian or the cyclist, so by having to catch him down the road, that appears to be a hit and run,” Flores said.
The victim refused medical attention after an ambulance was called to check on his medical status, according to Flores.
“Evidence shows that it was the cyclist who ran into him. But regardless, If you’re involved in an accident, you must stop and exchange information,’ Flores said, “We get a lot of hit and runs out of parking lots where people aren’t careful parking, and then they just leave without leaving information. So we get a lot of those, but this is rare.”