March 17, 2023 – California Highway Patrol
Blue Jay, California
On March 16, 2023, at approximately 7:38 p.m., a pedestrian was
walking on State Route 189, east of Blue Jay Cutoff. A motorist was driving an unknown
type of vehicle, westbound on State Route 189, east of Blue Jay Cutoff, approaching the
pedestrian.
The motorist was driving at an unknown speed when the pedestrian was struck
by the vehicle in the westbound lane. The pedestrian came to rest in the westbound lane
and the motorist fled the scene in their vehicle. The pedestrian was medically attended to
by personnel from the Lake Arrowhead fire station but succumbed to his injuries, on scene, at
7:58 p.m.
A possible vehicle of interest is being described as a dark colored sport utility
vehicle (S.U.V.), leaving the scene. The California Highway Patrol is investigating the
collision and Officer R. Jedlick will be conducting the investigation.
The CHP needs the public’s help in identifying the vehicle and driver. If anyone observed
anything that may help with the investigation, please contact Officer R. Jedlick or Officer D.
Gibson, at the Arrowhead CHP Area Office, at (909)867-2791.
The pedestrian’s information is being withheld until next of kin has been notified.
We saw a gray truck with a camper shell driving erratically on westbound Hwy 18 (between Rim Forest and the signal for Lake Gregory Dr), sometime between 7:40 and 8 pm. He was driving very slowly in the fog. He drove into the eastbound lane and almost hit an oncoming vehicle. We honked our horn and pulled up alongside him to see if he needed help seeing his way through the fog. We honked again but he didn’t look at us. He had a hood over his head, which he pulled back. We all got the same impression that he looked Mexican American. We will be reporting this information to the officers listed in this article, but their office is closed today (Saturday).