Edgar Chavez Killed in Big Bear Hit-and-Run Accident
Authorities are searching for a gray Toyota Tundra that fled the scene on State Route 38
Edgar Chavez, 43, of Riverside, was killed in a hit-and-run crash on State Route 38 near Greenway Drive in Big Bear on Monday, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Emergency personnel performed CPR on Chavez after he suffered major facial lacerations. He was pronounced dead at the scene at 8:04 a.m. Investigators are searching for a gray Toyota Tundra that fled eastbound on Big Bear Boulevard. The suspect vehicle reportedly had a traffic collision damage indicator cone wedged underneath it.
Authorities established a hard closure between Greenway Drive and Mount Doble Drive and issued a SigAlert. The road reopened just before 3:30 p.m.
The sudden loss of Chavez, who was on the job when the crash occurred, has deeply impacted the local community as authorities continue their search for the driver. The crash remains under investigation.
Nationwide, AAA reports that more than 900,000 police-reported crashes involved a driver fleeing the scene in 2023.
The sudden loss of a loved one in a hit-and-run leaves families grappling with deep grief and unanswered questions, especially when the victim was simply doing their job.
Candice Bond, managing partner at Bond Legal, said, "Reconstructing a hit-and-run crash takes skill and patience, since investigators must piece together speed, direction, and impact angles using only fragments of physical evidence left behind. Every measurement matters when trying to recreate exactly how a collision happened without any statement from the driver responsible."
"A legal team can bring in accident reconstruction experts to analyze the available evidence thoroughly," added Bond, who is also a national legal analyst for Accident News.
What do we know about the hit-and-run investigation on State Route 38?
While the criminal justice system works to identify the driver who fled eastbound on Big Bear Boulevard, independent investigations often run concurrently to preserve critical evidence.
California wrongful death statute
Under Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 377.60, surviving family members may file a wrongful death action. California applies pure comparative fault. The statute of limitations is 2 years from the date of death.
Recoverable damages may include loss of financial support, loss of companionship, funeral expenses, and the decedent's pre-death pain and suffering.
"Insurance representatives routinely push rapid financial settlements before long-term household losses can be thoroughly measured," said Stefano Formica, of counsel at Bond Legal.
Formica, who is also a national legal analyst for Accident News, noted, "To avoid premature releases, a legal team carefully evaluates initial settlement proposals, safeguarding grieving families against accepting low offers that fail to account for ongoing financial burdens."