Published: August 9, 2026
By: Yaghmai Law Firm, APC
(Victorville, CA) – A man was hospitalized after a driver struck him while he was changing a tire on Saturday afternoon in Victorville, and that driver had not been found, authorities said.
According to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department, the collision took place around 3 p.m. on August 8 along Lindero Road near Ridgecrest Road, at the end of a cul-de-sac close to the entrance of an Extra Space Storage facility. Deputies were sent to the scene after receiving a report that a vehicle had hit a pedestrian.
A sheriff's spokeswoman said the injured man, an adult male, was working on a tire on his vehicle when a black vehicle he did not recognize hit him. According to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department, "Upon arrival, deputies determined that the victim, an adult male, was changing a tire on his vehicle when an unknown black vehicle struck him. The victim was transported to the hospital for treatment of his injuries. The suspect vehicle was not located and remains outstanding."
San Bernardino County Fire crews also responded and called for an airship to fly the injured pedestrian to a trauma center. Investigators had no further description of the vehicle available at the time, and the sheriff's department said its investigation was continuing.
Know Your Rights After a Crash
After a serious crash, California law gives injured people and families limited time to act. Evidence like vehicle data, camera footage, and witness memories fades quickly. A free, no-obligation case review can help you understand your options. Call or text (888) 800-6731, or start a free case review online. Asistencia en español disponible.
Analysis of the Victorville Hit-and-Run Collision
When a driver leaves the scene of a crash that injures someone, California law treats that conduct seriously. Under Vehicle Code section 20001, a driver involved in a collision resulting in injury must stop immediately and meet the identification and assistance duties described in Vehicle Code section 20003, which include exchanging information and rendering reasonable aid. If investigators eventually identify the driver, these statutes may be relevant to how the matter is evaluated.
Civil liability in a pedestrian collision is generally analyzed under Civil Code section 1714(a), which makes each person responsible for injuries caused by a lack of ordinary care. Where evidence suggests a driver was traveling at an unsafe speed for the conditions, the Basic Speed Law under Vehicle Code section 22350 can inform that assessment. If a driver is shown to have violated a safety statute, Evidence Code section 669 may allow a presumption of negligence when the violation proximately causes the type of injury the statute was meant to prevent and the injured person falls within the protected class. Any recovery could be reduced under the comparative-fault framework of Civil Code section 1431.2 to reflect each party's share of responsibility, and compensable losses would be measured under Civil Code section 3333.
Because the driver here remains unidentified, insurance coverage often becomes central. Insurance Code section 11580.2 requires California auto policies to include uninsured motorist coverage unless it is rejected in writing, and that coverage can allow an injured person to seek bodily-injury damages from their own policy when the at-fault driver cannot be found, including in hit-and-run cases.
What Injured Pedestrians and Their Families Can Do
Anyone hurt in a hit-and-run should obtain a copy of the sheriff's collision report, keep detailed records of medical care, and preserve any evidence such as photos of the scene, the vehicle, or nearby storage-facility cameras that may have captured the vehicle. It also helps to review your own auto policy for uninsured-motorist coverage and to note the two-year deadline for personal-injury claims under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1. Because unidentified-driver claims raise unusual questions, speaking with an attorney early can help protect your rights. Were you, or someone you love, involved in this crash? A Victorville Car Accident Lawyer at Yaghmai Law Firm can explain your options and deal with the insurance companies for you. Call or text (888) 800-6731 or request a free case review.
About the Author
Houtan Yaghmai, Esq., President & Managing Attorney of Yaghmai Law Firm, APC. California State Bar No. 298487. Speaks English, French, and Persian. The firm represents personal injury clients throughout Southern California – consultations by phone, text, or video, no office visits required.
This post was assembled with AI assistance from publicly reported news sources cited below. All California Vehicle Code references were verified against leginfo.legislature.ca.gov. Facts were re-checked via additional web searches before publication. This post is based on initial news reports and may be updated as new facts develop. Nothing in this article is legal advice. Yaghmai Law Firm, APC is not associated with the investigating agencies and does not represent any party named in this post unless explicitly stated.
Sources:
1. RSS_VVNG – Man Struck By Hit-And-Run Driver While Changing Tire In Victorville: https://www.vvng.com/man-struck-by-hit-and-run-driver-while-changing-tire-in-victorville/
