Around 3:33 a.m. January 23, police officers responded to L Street between West 18th and West 10th streets after they were notified about a body in the area.
Antioch, CA – 17-year-old Jeana Flores, who was found dead with multiple injuries Friday morning near the Contra Costa County Fairgrounds in Antioch, was the victim of a hit-and-run collision, according to an autopsy performed by authorities.
Around 3:33 a.m. January 23, police officers responded to L Street between West 18th and West 10th streets after they were notified about a body in the area.
The officers found Flores, a resident of Antioch, on the side of the road, deceased with multiple injuries.
Flores' death was first being investigated as being suspicious, but autopsy results indicate she died from a hit-and-run collision. As a result, the investigation is now being handled by the police Traffic Safety Unit.
Police were yet to identify the reason why Flores was in the area, and have no evidence that she was struck by a vehicle.
California has one of the highest rates of fatal hit-and-run crashes in the United States. From national analysis of 2019–2023 data, 2,178 fatal crashes in the state involved a driver fleeing the scene, representing about 11.3 % of all fatal collisions — notably higher than the national average. Hit-and-run fatalities include both vehicle occupants and vulnerable road users, but pedestrians and bicyclists are disproportionately affected when drivers leave the scene. On average, roughly 150 people are killed annually in hit-and-run accidents across California, with about three fatalities per week statewide. Factors contributing to hit-and-run behavior include impaired driving (DUI), lack of seatbelt use, and fear of legal consequences. Many offenders are not apprehended or convicted, with some estimates showing less than 1 % of drivers fleeing an injury or fatal crash receive felony convictions. These numbers underscore ongoing enforcement challenges and the serious public safety impact of hit-and-run collisions in California.
If you lost a loved one in this traffic accident, a hit-and-run car accident lawyer can answer all your legal questions about the accident and advise on the best legal option to take.