A jogger from Walnut was killed when a 36-year-old West Covina driver plowed into him as he was running on La Puente Road earlier this week at approximately 6 a.m.
Law enforcement from the Walnut/Diamond Bar sheriff’s station learned of the pedestrian death when a nearby homeowner dialed 911 to say a car hit a wall close to his house near Barnard Avenue’s 20200 block.
The driver struck the man with his Camry as he jogged in the bike lane just westward of Citadel Drive on La Puente Road.
After the initial impact, the driver carried the injured jogger for several yards before eventually crashing into the wall. The 59-year-old man died at the accident scene and was pronounced by firefighters.
Later that night, the drivers were charged with suspicion of murder. A lieutenant with the sheriff’s Homicide Bureau stated that there is no indication that the two men knew one another.
When police arrived, the driver was standing by his Camry and appeared uninjured. However, the deputies who detained him took him to a local hospital in order to be given a medical clearance to be arrested for the jogger’s death. His bail is set at $1 million.
Those who have lost loved ones in similar incidents should understand that while justice may be meted out in the criminal court system, that is not the only avenue to resolution for grieving family members. Wrongful death claims may be bolstered by criminal convictions, but do not depend on them, or even a person being arrested on criminal charges related to a loved one’s death.