Road Worker Killed in Big Bear Boulevard Hit-and-Run Crash

Published: September 2, 2026
By: Yaghmai Law Firm, APC

(Big Bear, CA) – A road worker was struck and killed on Monday morning along Big Bear Boulevard when a pickup truck hit him and drove off, and an alleged hit-and-run driver was later taken into custody, according to reporting on the crash.

Emergency dispatchers took the collision call at 7:09 a.m. Monday on Highway 38 at Greenway Drive, the official designation for that stretch of Big Bear Boulevard, according to an account cited in the coverage. A San Bernardino County Land Use Services Department staff report identifies the location as Big Bear Boulevard (SR-38) and Greenway Drive.

Paramedics performed CPR on the injured worker, but first responders declared him dead at 8:04 a.m. after those efforts were unsuccessful, per the same account. The San Bernardino County coroner's office identified the man as a 43-year-old Riverside resident, the Victorville Daily Press reported.

A witness told the CHP that a colleague had been struck by a gray Toyota Tundra pickup, according to Daily Press reporter Brian Day. Witnesses described the truck swerving on the roadway before the collision and then fleeing east toward Yucaipa with front-end damage and a traffic cone lodged beneath it, the reporting states. CHP logs cited by the Daily Press note the cone remained wedged under the truck as it drove off, a detail investigators hoped would help identify the vehicle.

Caltrans closed Big Bear Boulevard in both directions while crews worked the scene, according to the Daily Press. The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Office and the California Highway Patrol are jointly investigating the fatal hit-and-run, which was cataloged under CHP Incident No. 0148. The CHP Arrowhead area office can be reached at 909-867-2791 for anyone with information.

Analysis of the Big Bear Boulevard Collision

The following is general legal information, not a conclusion about fault in this case, which remains under investigation. When a driver leaves the scene of a crash that results in injury or death, California Vehicle Code section 20001 makes that a felony and, together with section 20003, requires a driver involved in an injury or fatal collision to stop, exchange identifying information, and render reasonable assistance to anyone hurt. Investigators in hit-and-run cases typically work to identify the vehicle and driver before any of those duties can be evaluated.

Where a collision involves a person killed on a roadway, investigators often examine vehicle speed and driving behavior. California's Basic Speed Law, Vehicle Code section 22350, provides that a person may not drive faster than is reasonable and prudent given conditions such as visibility, traffic, and the road itself. If evidence were to show a statutory violation that proximately caused the death, Evidence Code section 669 describes how such a violation can create a presumption of a failure to use due care when the victim is among those the statute was meant to protect. Civil Code section 1714 sets the broader principle that a person is responsible for injuries caused by a want of ordinary care.

A hit-and-run in which the responsible driver is initially unidentified raises particular insurance questions. Under Insurance Code section 11580.2, California auto policies must include uninsured motorist coverage unless waived in writing, and that coverage can extend to bodily injury caused by an unidentified or hit-and-run driver, potentially reaching certain heirs. Where a death results, Code of Civil Procedure sections 377.60 and 377.30 identify who may bring a wrongful death action and how a decedent's surviving claims pass to a successor in interest, while Civil Code section 3333 sets the general measure of damages for the detriment proximately caused.

What Families and Workers Can Do

Families affected by a fatal roadway crash can request the official collision report, keep records of the CHP incident number, and note the applicable deadlines, including the two-year personal injury limitations period under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1 and any wrongful death claims arising from the loss. Preserving evidence, documenting employment and any work-zone circumstances, and reviewing available insurance coverage – including uninsured motorist benefits when a driver is unidentified – can all matter. If you have questions about your rights after a fatal hit-and-run, Were you, or someone you love, involved in this crash? A California truck 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.

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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. GNEWS_CA_CRASH – Big Bear Road Worker Killed in Crash; Alleged Hit-and-Run Driver Taken Into Custody: https://hoodline.com/2026/09/big-bear-road-worker-killed-in-crash-alleged-hit-and-run-driver-taken-into-custody/