(Riverside, CA) Michelle Hunt, 72, of Corona, died after a crash at Adams Street and California Avenue, police arresting the other driver.
On Thursday, November 5, shortly before 3 a.m., Hunt was driving her sedan through the intersection when another car struck it, according to the Riverside Police Department. Authorities identified the other driver as 30-year-old Jose Angel Campos Andrade.
Following the impact, first responders transported Hunt in grave condition to Riverside Community Hospital. Unfortunately, she died approximately four hours later. Police said Andrade left the crash scene before officers located him nearby.
“He was located and detained in the area of Adams and Arlington Avenue,” Detective Steve Espinosa reported.
When officers contacted Andrade, they noticed signs consistent with intoxication, according to Espinosa. Officers took him into custody, and he was booked into Robert Presley Jail hours after the crash on suspicion of hit-and-run resulting in death and felony DUI.
As Friday, the case was expected to be submitted to the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office for review on Monday, November 9. That anticipated referral was a request for prosecutorial review, rather than an announcement of filed charges.
Legal Overview of the Adams Street Collision
Hunt was hospitalized while police located the driver who allegedly left the intersection. The reported departure carries legal significance apart from the suspected impairment.
California Vehicle Code 20001 requires drivers involved in injury or fatal collisions to stop immediately and fulfill their identification and assistance duties. Being located elsewhere afterward does not replace the obligation to stop at the scene.
The felony DUI allegation also brings California Vehicle Code 23153 into consideration. It addresses impaired driving accompanied by an unlawful driving act or neglected driving duty that causes injury to another person. Applying that provision requires connecting the driving conduct to Hunt’s injuries, alongside evidence of impairment.
The collision require separate proof: what the driver did after impact, and what driving conduct caused the injuries. Evidence supporting one allegation does not automatically establish the other.
Help for the Family
With prosecutors expected to review the Adams Street collision, you can seek a victim-services contact through the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office. Once a case is received, that contact can explain how to receive hearing notifications and submit information about losses for any restitution consideration, without requiring your family to monitor court developments alone.
If you have any concerns about navigating the legal process surrounding this incident, call 888-888-9285 to speak with a lawyer.
