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Hit and run charges explained

Posted at 6:48 PM, Jan 11, 2016
and last updated 2016-01-11 21:48:24-05

It’s only been two weeks into the New Year and already two men been killed due to hit and run crashes. 

The first crash happened Saturday night on District Boulevard near Ashe in southwest Bakersfield taking the life of 26-year-old Cody Williams.  Sunday another man was killed at Panama Lane near Union in southwest Bakersfield.  The 74-year-old man hasn’t been identified yet.  In both cases, police are still looking for whoever hit them and drove away.  

The law says you’re supposed to stop after every accident, whether there's property damage or someone is injured.  If someone is injured it can be a misdemeanor or felony not to stop and if some dies as a result an additional 5 years can be added to your prison term.  

A new public alert system plans to help track down hit-and-run drivers on California's roadways.  The so-called "yellow alert" system went into effect January 1st and will use highway signs and sent messages to your cell phone to help track down people flee the scene of an accident.

The best thing to do is pull over as soon as you hit someone and call for help.  That split second decision to stay can save a life.