Adolfo Rosales Diaz, 64, of Salinas was arrested following the collision that killed 67-year-old Maria Elena Chavez de Chavez of Salinas.
Salinas, CA. – 67-year-old Maria Elena Chavez de Chavez of Salinas has been identified by the Monterey County Sheriff's Office as the victim who died in a hit-and-run accident Wednesday morning near Salinas.
Adolfo Rosales Diaz, 64, of Salinas was arrested following the collision.
According to the California Highway Patrol, the collision occurred around 6:17 a.m. on Alisal Road north of Hartnell Road.
A Nissan Altima and a white 2001 GMC Yukon were involved in the accident.
CHP said a 68-year-old Salinas man was driving the Altima south on Alisal Road, and Diaz was driving the Yukon south on the same road, approaching the rear of the Altima.
The driver of the Altima started to slow down to turn left into an agricultural field. As the Altima turned, the driver of the Yukon attempted to pass the Altima by moving into the northbound lane.
Upon realizing the Altima was making a turn, Diaz slowed down to avoid a collision but ended up hitting the left rear of the Nissan.
The force of the impact sent the Altima off the roadway into a ditch east of the road. The Yukon stopped facing the northbound lane in the southbound lane.
Diaz then fled the scene before authorities arrived.
Emergency personnel responded to the scene and pronounced Chavez dead at the scene. She was a passenger in the Altima.
The driver of the Altima was taken to Natividad Medical Center with major head injuries.
Diaz was located about six hours later a couple miles from the scene. He was arrested on charges of hit-and-run causing injury or death.
Original Story
Salinas, CA. – A 67-year-old Salinas woman was killed in a two-vehicle collision on Alisal Road in Salinas Wednesday morning.
According to the California Highway Patrol, the incident was reported on Alisal Road and Hartnell Road at around 6:17 a.m.
The GMC Yukon was driving the wrong way when it slammed into the Nissan Altima driven by Ismael Bernal, 68, of Salinas, sending the smaller vehicle into a ditch.
The passenger in the Altima was pronounced dead at the scene.
Bernal was transported to the hospital to be treated for major head injuries.
The GMC driver fled the scene and officers are searching for them.
An investigation is ongoing.
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