Juan Garcia Killed in Fort Worth, TX Hit-and-Run on Vaughn Avenue
UPDATE (August 15, 2022): Later reports identified the pedestrian killed in this accident as 74-year-old Juan Garcia. Garcia was on a nightly walk when he was hit while legally crossing Vaughn Blvd. The driver who struck him left the scene and remains at large.
Fort Worth, TX — August 12, 2022, a male pedestrian was struck and killed by a hit-and-run vehicle while crossing Vaughn Boulevard in Fort Worth.
According to reports the incident happened just before 10:00 p.m. at the intersection of Vaughn and Avenue H. Preliminary investigation suggests the victim was lawfully crossing Vaughn when he was fatally struck by a passing vehicle that did not stop after the impact. Investigators did not release a description of the vehicle.
The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.
The investigation continues. No further information is currently available.
Commentary on Juan Garcia Accident in Fort Worth
UPDATE (December 21, 2022): Later reports about this incident include blood test results showing the victim had an approximate BAC of .170 at the time of the accident. I don't bring that up to add insult to injury, and I'd imagine some people wonder how relevant it is. He wasn't driving and is beyond the law's reach now, so why mention it? Because if alcohol was at all responsible for his fatal injuries then Texas dram shop law might want a word with whoever served it to him.
Here's an example: Not long ago a family came to me about a loved one who was hit and killed by a car after he walked onto a freeway ramp. They didn't understand how he got there and asked us to find out. Our investigations revealed that he spent that day drinking at a bowling alley, which illegally kept serving him drinks far past his limits. Because he was in a fatal accident while too drunk to act safely, the business was liable for its role in his death under dram shop law.
In case it seems like I'm ignoring the elephant in the room, let me be clear that no extenuating circumstances excuse the hit-and-run driver from fleeing the scene. They must be caught and made to answer for their cold and callous choices. I am only pointing out that everyone who contributed to the accident should be held accountable. That may not involve an illegally over-serving bar, but the possibility should never be dismissed out of hand when alcohol and serious injuries may be connected. If a business needs a tough lesson and the victim's family might receive help in the process, isn't that more than enough reason to look into it?
ORIGINAL: It's beyond frustrating to see yet another instance where someone fled instead of helping in the crucial minutes after a collision. So often that time can make the difference between life and death if help is quickly summoned to the scene, yet almost daily there are new reports of people fleeing instead of taking responsibility. I can't help but wonder what possible justification someone could have for leaving another person behind to die like this. Did they just panic, or did they have something to hide? Warrants? Drugs? Did intoxication lead to their poor choices?
Answering those questions and determining the suspect's motive is important not only so the accident can be fully understood, but also because the answers can help victims and families navigate complex legal avenues they might not otherwise have access to. Finding the runaway driver and ensuring they face consequences is a paramount concern, but in addition it's important to get the people affected by this accident the help they need. That's why the community must remain vigilant until someone connects the dots and identifies the runaway driver. If police and the public work together, I'm confident justice can be done.
