Fresno County, CA — Authorities have arrested hit-and-run and DUI suspect Sunil Sunil, of Fresno, in connection with a fatal pedestrian collision in the early hours of Wednesday, September 30, 2026, according to KSEE/KGPE.
According to the California Highway Patrol, around 4:00 AM, officers responded to a home in Easton while investigating reports of a crash in the area.
Authorities report that Sunil told officers that he had been driving a Hyundai Sonata when he struck a parked vehicle several hours earlier. However, officers examining the Hyundai determined that the vehicle’s damage did not match his account.
After further questioning, Sunil stated that he had struck a pedestrian and fled the scene. Officers then arrested him on suspicion of having been driving under the influence of alcohol, and initiated a search for the pedestrian.
At that time, no injured pedestrians who might have matched the one Sunil had struck had been reported. After searching possible routes Sunil may have traveled, a CHP sergeant found a deceased woman on the west dirt shoulder of Elm Avenue, south of American Avenue. Investigators determined nearby debris to be consistent with the damage to Sunil’s vehicle.
Sunil received transport to Community Regional Medical Center for medical clearance before being booked into the Fresno County Jail.
Any who may have witnessed this fatal pedestrian hit-and-run are asked to contact the CHP Fresno Area office.
The identity of the deceased has not been released as of the time of reporting.
California DUI Law
Section 23153(a) of the California Vehicle Code (CVC) states that it is illegal for any driver to “Operate a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs and, as a result, cause bodily injury to someone else.”
California Hit-and-Run Laws
California Law requires drivers involved in a collision to stop their vehicle, notify law enforcement, and exchange insurance information with others involved. Failure to do so, considered to be a “hit-and-run,” is a misdemeanor in cases of property damage and a felony when someone has been injured.
Fresno County Fatal Pedestrian Accidents and Wrongful Death Claims
California law requires drivers to exercise an extra duty of care around pedestrians due to their greater vulnerability to injury in a collision. After a pedestrian crash, investigators examine nearby evidence to determine whether or not the driver was negligent and therefore liable for the victim’s injuries. In this case, if Sunil is convicted of driving under the influence or hit-and-run, he may be determined to have committed “negligence per se,” by having violated traffic safety laws.
Regardless of the outcome of any criminal proceedings, the victim’s family may have grounds to pursue a wrongful death claim against Sunil’s insurance provider. A wrongful death claim can provide compensation for such damages as funeral expenses and the loss of support and companionship provided by the deceased.
Fresno County Wrongful Death Lawyer
If you or someone you love has been harmed in an accident like the one described here on Elm Avenue in Fresno County, consider reaching out to a California wrongful death lawyer with any questions and to receive a no-cost, no-obligation case assessment.
