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Pedestrian Killed After Driver Flees in Hit-and-Run at Claribel Road and Langworth Road Near Modesto in Stanislaus County – April 7, 2026

Fatal Crash Hit-and-Run April 7, 2026 Stanislaus County (near Modesto), CA

Pedestrian Killed After Driver Flees in Hit-and-Run at Claribel Road and Langworth Road Near Modesto in Stanislaus County – April 7, 2026

A pedestrian was struck and killed in a hit-and-run crash at the intersection of Claribel Road and Langworth Road just outside Modesto in Stanislaus County on the night of Tuesday, April 7, 2026. The driver — later identified through evidence as the operator of a white Ford F-150 — fled the scene after impact, leaving the victim to die. The California Highway Patrol, with help from its Investigative Services Unit and the Riverbank Police Department, subsequently located the suspected vehicle and arrested a 19-year-old man from Riverbank on suspicion of felony hit-and-run resulting in death. The names of both the victim and the arrested suspect have not been released by authorities. The investigation is ongoing.

Incident Summary

Type
Fatal Hit-and-Run — Pedestrian Struck by Vehicle
Location
Claribel Road at Langworth Road, Stanislaus County, CA (just outside Modesto)
Date
April 7, 2026 (Tuesday)
Time
Approximately 9:00 p.m.
Fatality
One pedestrian — killed at scene; identity not released
Vehicle
White Ford F-150, model years 2009–2014; damage to right front headlight, bumper, and hood
Driver Action
Fled the scene after impact
Suspect
19-year-old male from Riverbank; booked into Stanislaus County Jail; name not released
Charge
Felony hit-and-run resulting in death — California Vehicle Code § 20001(a)
Agency
CHP Modesto (primary); CHP Investigative Services Unit; Riverbank Police Department — investigation ongoing

Crash Location

Open in Google Maps

What Happened

At approximately 9:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, a pedestrian was struck and killed at the intersection of Claribel Road and Langworth Road in Stanislaus County, just outside the Modesto city limits. According to the California Highway Patrol, the victim was hit by a vehicle that immediately fled the scene without stopping. The pedestrian died at the scene from injuries sustained in the impact. The exact circumstances of how the pedestrian came to be in the roadway at that location and time have not been publicly detailed by investigators.

In the immediate aftermath, CHP Modesto issued a public request for information, broadcasting a vehicle description based on physical evidence collected at the crash site. Investigators identified the suspected vehicle as a white Ford F-150 pickup, model years 2009 to 2014, with damage consistent with the collision — specifically to the right front headlight, bumper, and hood. The description was disseminated to neighboring law enforcement agencies and the public. With assistance from the CHP’s Investigative Services Unit and the Riverbank Police Department, investigators located a vehicle believed to be connected to the crash. The vehicle was recovered and taken as evidence.

CHP Modesto subsequently arrested a 19-year-old man from the city of Riverbank, located approximately nine miles east of Modesto, and booked him into the Stanislaus County Jail. He was arrested on suspicion of felony hit-and-run resulting in death, a violation of California Vehicle Code § 20001(a). As of this reporting, the names of the arrested suspect and the victim have not been released by authorities. The investigation remains ongoing, and no further details about the crash sequence have been confirmed publicly.

Legal Options for the Victim’s Family

A driver who strikes a pedestrian and flees the scene has committed one of the most serious forms of traffic negligence recognized by California law — and that negligence gives the victim’s family the foundation for a wrongful death claim. The arrest of a suspect does not delay or diminish that right. The criminal case and the civil case are entirely separate proceedings.

Wrongful Death Claim Against the Driver

The family of the pedestrian killed in this crash has the right to file a wrongful death claim against the driver under California Code of Civil Procedure § 377.60. Eligible claimants include the victim’s spouse, children, or — if no spouse or children exist — other dependents and family members. Recoverable damages are broad: funeral and burial expenses, the financial contributions the victim would have made to the household over their lifetime, the monetary value of household services, and the non-economic losses of companionship, support, and society. California places no cap on wrongful death damages in car accident cases. The driver’s auto liability insurance is the primary source of recovery, and an attorney can also investigate whether there are additional liable parties, such as a vehicle owner who permitted the driver to operate the truck.

How a Criminal Arrest Strengthens the Civil Case

The arrest on suspicion of violating CVC § 20001(a) — felony hit-and-run resulting in death — reflects that investigators believe there is probable cause to connect this suspect to the crash. In a civil wrongful death lawsuit, the family’s burden of proof is a preponderance of the evidence (more likely than not) — a lower standard than the criminal “beyond a reasonable doubt” threshold. Physical evidence linking the recovered Ford F-150 to the crash scene, along with any admissions or statements made during the arrest process, can be used in civil proceedings. If the suspect is ultimately convicted, that conviction becomes powerful evidence of fault in the civil case.

Uninsured Motorist Coverage — If the Driver Lacks Insurance

Hit-and-run drivers who are later identified often carry inadequate or no auto insurance. If that is the case here, the victim’s own uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage — or a family member’s policy — may serve as a critical recovery path. California requires insurers to offer UM/UIM coverage on every auto policy. This coverage is specifically designed to protect families when the at-fault driver cannot pay. An attorney can quickly identify all available insurance policies that may apply to this crash and pursue them simultaneously with any direct claim against the suspect.

Evidence Preservation — Act Quickly

The Ford F-150 has already been recovered as evidence by CHP. However, the family’s attorney should move independently to preserve all available evidence supporting the civil case. Vehicle event data recorders (EDRs, sometimes called “black boxes”) in modern vehicles record speed, braking, and throttle inputs in the seconds before a collision — data that can confirm exactly what the driver was doing at the moment of impact. Dash camera footage from passing vehicles and any surveillance cameras at nearby properties along Claribel and Langworth Roads may still exist. Witnesses who were in the area at 9:00 p.m. on April 7 may not remain easy to locate as time passes. An attorney with experience in hit-and-run cases can act on these preservation tasks immediately.

Pedestrian Deaths and Hit-and-Run Crashes in Stanislaus County and California

~3,000+
Hit-and-run fatalities recorded nationally each year, with California consistently ranking among the states with the highest number of hit-and-run crashes — both fatal and non-fatal — due to the state’s high volume of vehicle miles traveled
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS)
4 Years
Maximum state prison sentence for felony hit-and-run resulting in death under California Vehicle Code § 20001(b)(2) — a penalty that reflects the legislature’s recognition of the severe harm caused by drivers who abandon victims at the scene
California Vehicle Code § 20001(b)(2)
Rural Risk
Rural and unincorporated Stanislaus County roads — including high-speed arterials like Claribel Road — carry significant vehicle traffic connecting Modesto, Riverbank, Oakdale, and surrounding communities. Pedestrian crashes on rural county roads often occur at night and in locations with limited lighting, increasing both crash severity and the likelihood of a driver fleeing the scene undetected
CHP Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS) / Stanislaus County road network data
The 2-Year Clock Starts Now
California’s wrongful death statute of limitations is two years from the date of death (CCP § 335.1). But practical deadlines arrive much sooner: surveillance footage overwrites within days to weeks, vehicle EDR data must be preserved before the vehicle is returned or repaired, and witnesses’ memories fade. The family of the pedestrian killed on April 7, 2026 should consult with an attorney as soon as possible — not just to protect the legal deadline, but to protect the evidence that will support their case.
California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the family file a wrongful death claim even though the driver was already arrested?
Yes. A criminal arrest and a civil wrongful death lawsuit are entirely separate legal proceedings. The criminal case — pursued by the District Attorney — seeks punishment for the driver. The civil case — pursued by the family — seeks compensation for their losses. The two proceed independently and simultaneously. A criminal conviction, guilty plea, or even a no-contest plea can be powerful evidence in the civil case, but the family does not need to wait for the criminal process to resolve before filing their own lawsuit. In fact, waiting can cost the family valuable evidence.
Does a criminal conviction for hit-and-run help the family’s civil lawsuit?
Yes, significantly. A criminal conviction for felony hit-and-run under California Vehicle Code § 20001(a) establishes that a court found the defendant guilty of leaving the scene of a fatal crash. While a criminal conviction is not automatically binding in a civil proceeding, it is powerful evidence of fault that a civil jury can consider. Because the civil standard of proof — preponderance of the evidence — is lower than the criminal standard of beyond a reasonable doubt, a family that faces difficulty meeting the criminal burden can still succeed in a civil wrongful death claim. The physical evidence linking the recovered Ford F-150 to the crash scene is available to the civil case as well.
What if the hit-and-run driver doesn’t have insurance — how can the family recover?
If the driver has no insurance or insufficient insurance to cover the full extent of the family’s damages, the victim’s own uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage — or a family member’s policy — becomes critical. California law requires every auto insurer to offer UM/UIM coverage, and many families carry it without fully realizing how it works. This coverage is specifically designed to protect victims when the at-fault driver cannot pay. An attorney can review every applicable policy and pursue all available sources of recovery simultaneously, ensuring the family is not left with only a judgment against a driver who may lack the assets to pay it.
How long does the family have to file a wrongful death lawsuit in California?
California’s statute of limitations for wrongful death claims is generally two years from the date of death under Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1 — meaning the family has until approximately April 7, 2028 to file suit. However, acting promptly is strongly advisable for practical reasons: the Ford F-150 recovered as evidence may not remain secured indefinitely, EDR data from the vehicle should be independently preserved, surveillance footage from businesses and residences along Claribel and Langworth Roads may have already been overwritten, and witnesses become harder to locate over time. If any government entity bears responsibility — for example, if inadequate lighting or road design at the intersection contributed to the crash — a much shorter six-month government tort claim deadline may apply.

Related Resources

Practice Area
Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
Representing pedestrians and their families throughout the Central Valley and Stanislaus County — including fatal hit-and-run crashes on rural county roads.
Practice Area
Wrongful Death Attorney
Helping families pursue full compensation after a loved one is killed by a negligent or fleeing driver — including cases where a criminal arrest has already been made.
Knowledge Hub
What Happens If You’re Injured in a Hit-and-Run?
How UM/UIM coverage works, what steps to take immediately, and how a California attorney can protect your rights when the driver flees the scene.
Practice Area
Car Accident Lawyer — Modesto & Stanislaus County
Scranton Law Firm represents victims and families across Stanislaus County, including Modesto, Riverbank, Oakdale, and surrounding communities.

He Was Left to Die on a Dark Road. His Family Has the Right to Fight.

A driver who flees a fatal crash forfeits their claim to lenience in a civil court. If you lost a family member in this crash or a similar hit-and-run in Modesto or Stanislaus County, our attorneys can move quickly to secure evidence, identify all insurance sources, and pursue full compensation on your behalf. Free consultation — no fees unless we win.

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