Crash Victim Killed in Ortega Highway Hit and Run

A motorist whose car crashed today on Ortega Highway near San Juan Capistrano was killed in a hit-and-run that happened after he got out of his vehicle, the California Highway Patrol said.

The 20-year-old man, who lived in south Orange County, was struck about 4:25 a,m a half-mile to a mile east of Antonio Parkway and died at the scene, CHP Officer Pete Kim said.

Investigators were working to confirm the victim’s identity and notify his family before publicly releasing a name, Kim said.

A motorist driving by saw the body and called authorities, Kim said.

About a quarter-mile from where the body was found, police recovered the victim’s Scion, which had been in a rollover accident, Kim said.

“He was definitely involved in a previous collision,” Kim said.

Investigators suspect the victim walked away from the initial collision westbound on the highway before he was struck by another vehicle, believed to be a 2010-13 Subaru Legacy, Kim said.

Investigators recovered parts from the vehicle that came off in the collision, Kim said.

The parts come from the right side and right front of the vehicle.

The CHP was asking anyone who has seen a damaged 2010-13 Subaru Legacy to call CHP Officer Jim Kelley at (714) 240-3752.

The collision happened in a remote area surrounded by fields, Kim said.

“It’s dark out there and there are no lights and it was pretty foggy this morning,” Kim said.

City News Service