Officials in Ventura County are still looking for a hit-and-run driver who left three girls seriously injured. According to a KEYT news report, the car accident in Ventura occurred the night of February 4, 2012 along Victoria Avenue in the Silverstrand portion of Oxnard. Officials say Joan Aronson was walking with her two daughters and another girl when the children were struck. The girls were walking in the bike path because the roadway did not have a sidewalk. Two of the victims, including a 9-year-old girl, sustained moderate injuries such as facial cuts and bruises. A 6-year-old girl named Brooke remains in critical condition with spinal, lung, and head injuries.

The authorities are seeking the public’s help to find the hit-and-run driver. The suspect vehicle is described as a 1997 to 2001 silver Toyota Camry with front-end damage including a broken headlight lens. The vehicle is missing the left front portion of its plastic bumper cover. A silver hubcap was also found at the crash scene. The car might have a crack in the right taillight, officials say. Anyone with information is asked to contact 805-477-4174.

My thoughts and prayers are with the three young victims of this Ventura car accident. I wish them the very best for a speedy and complete recovery.

Hit-and-Run Law

Based on this news report, the driver hit three young girls and drove away without even stopping to help them or call the authorities. Not only is this an unconscionable and irresponsible act, but it is also a serious crime. California Vehicle Code Section 20001 (a) states: "The driver of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to a person, other than himself or herself, or in the death of a person shall immediately stop the vehicle at the scene of the accident."

Holding Wrongdoers Accountable

Officials are searching for the driver and vehicle involved in this horrific crash. If you have any information about this accident, please visit our web site, www.hitandrunreward.com. Our site allows witnesses to provide an anonymous tip and become eligible to receive a $1,000 reward. Let us join hands as a community to help law enforcement find these hit-and-run drivers and hold them accountable.

Victims and their families in such cases would be well advised to speak with an experienced Ventura personal injury lawyer, who will stay on top of the ongoing investigation and help protect their legal rights and options. A skilled car accident attorney can better inform families about how their own auto insurance policy applies to an incident where the suspect is not found, or, in a crash where the at-fault motorist is uninsured or underinsured. If a dangerous condition such as lack of a sidewalk caused or contributed to the incident, the city or governmental agency responsible for maintaining the roadway can also be held liable. Under California Government Code Section 911.2, any personal injury claim against a governmental entity must be filed within six months of the incident.