An Escalon woman was killed and an Oakdale teen arrested following a vehicle vs. pedestrian crash early evening on Saturday, Feb. 4.
California Highway Patrol officers responded to the scene on Escalon-Bellota road south of Mahon about 6:30 p.m. after receiving multiple calls regarding the accident.
According to the CHP report, the 55-year-old woman was crossing Escalon-Bellota when a 16-year-old male from Oakdale, driving a 1996 Mazda northbound on Escalon-Bellota, failed to see her walking across the highway. Authorities said she was not in a crosswalk and the woman crossed in front of the driver, who was unable to safely avoid the collision. She was struck by the car and thrown to the pavement, coming to rest lying in the northbound lane of Escalon-Bellota. The teen driver fled the scene, said CHP officials, and the woman was taken to Doctors Hospital, Modesto, where she succumbed to her injuries sustained from the collision. She was later identified as Diane Smith, 55, of Escalon.
The incident occurred in a dark, unincorporated area of the county wjust outside the Escalon city limits. She lived in the area and was on her way home when she was struck.
Investigating CHP officer J. Rhodes said the teen and his vehicle were located later the same night and he was subsequently arrested on various charges. The preliminary report indicated that drugs and/or alcohol may have been a factor and the investigation is ongoing.
California Highway Patrol officers responded to the scene on Escalon-Bellota road south of Mahon about 6:30 p.m. after receiving multiple calls regarding the accident.
According to the CHP report, the 55-year-old woman was crossing Escalon-Bellota when a 16-year-old male from Oakdale, driving a 1996 Mazda northbound on Escalon-Bellota, failed to see her walking across the highway. Authorities said she was not in a crosswalk and the woman crossed in front of the driver, who was unable to safely avoid the collision. She was struck by the car and thrown to the pavement, coming to rest lying in the northbound lane of Escalon-Bellota. The teen driver fled the scene, said CHP officials, and the woman was taken to Doctors Hospital, Modesto, where she succumbed to her injuries sustained from the collision. She was later identified as Diane Smith, 55, of Escalon.
The incident occurred in a dark, unincorporated area of the county wjust outside the Escalon city limits. She lived in the area and was on her way home when she was struck.
Investigating CHP officer J. Rhodes said the teen and his vehicle were located later the same night and he was subsequently arrested on various charges. The preliminary report indicated that drugs and/or alcohol may have been a factor and the investigation is ongoing.
