A 55-year-old man died Sunday after being struck by a hit-and-run driver in West Long Beach on Friday, authorities said Tuesday.
Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) officers responded to the area of Santa Fe Avenue and Lincoln Street at about 9:48PM Friday regarding a hit-and-run traffic collision involving a vehicle and a pedestrian in a wheelchair, according to a statement from the LBPD.
Arriving officers found a pedestrian, later identified as 55-year-old Joe Guevara (pictured left), north of the intersection suffering from trauma to the head and body.
Long Beach Fire Department personnel responded and transported Guevara to a local hospital where he remained in critical condition before succumbing to his injuries on Sunday at about 3:18PM.
A preliminary investigation found that Guevara was in his wheelchair crossing eastbound on Santa Fe Avenue at Lincoln Street in an unmarked crosswalk.
The suspect vehicle, described by police as a green sedan, possibly a BMW, was traveling northbound on Santa Fe Avenue when it failed to yield to Guevara and collided with him.
“Mr. Guevara was thrown from his wheelchair and came to rest in the street north of the intersection,” the LBPD said in a statement. “The suspect vehicle fled from the collision northbound on Santa Fe Avenue towards Wardlow Road, dragging the wheelchair. Upon reaching Wardlow Road, the suspect vehicle turned eastbound on Wardlow Road where the wheelchair dislodged from the vehicle. The suspect vehicle was last seen traveling eastbound on Wardlow Road.”
Anyone who may have information regarding this incident is urged to contact the Long Beach Police Department Collision Investigation Detail, Detective Sirilo Garcia at 562-570-7355. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous may call 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), or text TIPLA plus your tip to 274637 (CRIMES), or visit www.LACrimeStoppers.org