According to Visalia police, Jessica De La Cruz, 36, was the victim of the accident that took place shortly after midnight January 18, on Giddings Street and Howard Avenue
Visalia, CA – The woman who was killed in a collision with a hit-and-run motorist in Visalia early Sunday morning has been identified.
According to Visalia police, Jessica De La Cruz, 36, was the victim of the accident that took place shortly after midnight January 18, on Giddings Street and Howard Avenue.
De La Cruz was reportedly struck by a driver who fled the scene after the accident. Reasons as to why the collision occurred were not immediately established.
The Visalia Police Department and firefighters responded to the scene and found De La Cruz critically injured lying on the ground.
She was transported to a hospital, where she was pronounced deceased.
Police are searching for the suspect who was driving a vehicle believed to be a 2004 – 2005 Honda Civic. The vihicle is suspected to have front-end damage due to the accident.
The Visalia Police Department is handling the investigation and anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to call the department's traffic unit at 559-713-4221.
In the 2023 California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) crash rankings, Visalia reported 495 victims killed or injured in traffic collisions, placing the city 44th out of 62 similarly sized California cities, indicating a moderate level of serious crash activity compared with peers. Alcohol‑involved collisions accounted for 60 victims (35/62), including 10 under age 21 and 27 aged 21–34, highlighting impaired driving as a notable factor. Pedestrian collisions resulted in 48 victims (23/62), with 12 pedestrians under age 15 ranking 1st/62 in that category, showing heightened risk for young pedestrians; bicyclist collisions involved 31 victims (33/62). Speed‑related fatal and injury collisions numbered 42 (60/62), and nighttime crashes totaled 49 (43/62), while hit‑and‑run incidents reached 31 (50/62). The city also recorded 297 DUI arrests in 2023 (42/62), reflecting ongoing law enforcement efforts to address impaired driving and improve road safety.
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