Steven Monzon Killed in Camarillo Hit-and-Run Accident
The 30-year-old victim was struck by a fleeing black sedan after being dropped off by a rideshare driver on a dark road
Steven Michael Monzon, 30, of Camarillo, was killed in a hit-and-run crash on Santa Rosa Road near Gerry Road in the Santa Rosa Valley on June 7, according to the California Highway Patrol.
A black sedan struck the man just before 11 p.m. as he used his cell phone light to flag down passing vehicles on a dark stretch of roadway with no sidewalks. The driver fled the scene without rendering aid.
Investigators found the Monzon's shoes and cell phone approximately 100 yards from the point of impact. The victim had been dropped off by an Uber driver halfway through his trip home from Moorpark before the collision occurred.
Troopers are actively searching for the suspect vehicle and reviewing 911 calls from the area.
Authorities are asking residents in the Ventura County community to check doorbell cameras for footage of the fleeing sedan.
The sudden loss of a loved one in a hit-and-run leaves families grappling with deep grief and unanswered questions, particularly when a rideshare service is involved in the events leading up to the crash.
While the California Highway Patrol works to identify the driver of the black sedan, legal professionals emphasize the importance of a thorough independent investigation to protect the rights of the victim's family.
Candice Bond, managing partner at Bond Legal, said, "Leaving after a violent collision often means an underinsured or uninsured driver walks away from responsibility, and injured people end up fighting an insurance policy just for basic compensation. Coverage disputes drag on for months and add serious stress nobody needs during recovery."
"An attorney reviews policy language line by line, pushing back against lowball offers and demanding fair payment," added Bond, who is also a national legal analyst for Accident News.
Why was the victim dropped off on Santa Rosa Road?
According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, hit‑and‑run crashes accounted for 15% of all police‑reported crashes and 7% of traffic deaths nationwide in 2023, with pedestrians and cyclists making up about one in four of those fatalities.
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.
"Fleeing drivers create instant chaos after a violent impact, and every passing minute makes finding real answers much harder. Serving as an advocate, an attorney moves quickly to preserve whatever physical evidence remains before disappearing for good, giving grieving families a genuine chance at real accountability down the road," Stefano Formica, a national legal analyst for Accident News and of counsel at Bond Legal.