Reedley, CA – In the early hours of Tuesday, July 28, 2026, a pedestrian hit-and-run resulted in the deaths of Luis Martinez Araujo, 75, and Maria Juarez Mendez, 78, and led to Reedley police identifying Omar Lopez Chavez, 48, as a suspect, according to ABC30.
The Reedley Police Department reports that the accident took place around 4:45 AM near Manning and Haney Avenues.
Authorities said the couple was struck by a driver who then fled the scene. Officers arrived to find both individuals with serious injuries. They were transported to a local hospital, where they later died. The Fresno County Coroner’s Office formally identified them following their deaths.
Reedley Police said detectives used video and electronic surveillance footage to trace the movements of a white Chevrolet Astro van connected to the crash. The van was located Wednesday parked in a fruit field near the intersection of Highway 145 and American Avenue, near Kerman, with front-end damage.
Investigators determined that Chavez was not alone in the vehicle at the time of the collision, but had five passengers present in his vehicle. Chavez remains at large and faces two counts of felony hit-and-run and two counts of vehicular manslaughter if found and convicted.
A memorial now stands near the site where the couple was struck, and Araujo’s family is making funeral arrangements. The investigation remains ongoing.
Reedley Hit-and-Run Accidents and Wrongful Death Claims
California law requires drivers involved in any collision to stop, render aid, and remain at the scene to cooperate with law enforcement. A driver who flees the scene of a fatal crash may face criminal prosecution in addition to civil liability.,and may be considered to have committed negligence per se, increasing their share of liability in the collision.
Regardless of the outcome of the criminal case, the families of Martinez Araujo and Juarez Mendez may have the right to pursue a wrongful death claim. A wrongful death claim can provide the families with compensation for funeral expenses, loss of financial support, loss of consortium, and other damages related to the fatal accident.
Reedley Wrongful Death Lawyer
If you or someone you love was harmed in an accident like the one described here, near Manning and Haney Avenues, contact a California wrongful death lawyer for any questions or to receive a no-cost, no-obligation case assessment.
