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Protester dies after being struck by vehicle, police say

R
Posted at 1:43 PM, Jun 06, 2020
and last updated 2020-06-06 22:38:18-04

BAKERSFIELD, Calif — The Bakersfield Police Department confirmed that the protester pedestrian involved in a traffic collision on Wednesday on California Avenue has diedfrom his injuries Saturday.

His family confirms Robert Forbes was marching in a demonstration between California Avenue and Oak Street on June 3.

His sister, Espinola Parker came to a vigil on Saturday night at the scene of the accident. She confirmed to 23ABC News that Forbes died on Saturday morning in the hospital.

"We need justice," she said. "They're gonna do whatever we have to do, whatever we have to do."

Parker wants others to give information if they have it.

"Anybody that knows anything, instead of putting all these videos over the phone, Facebook, you know come forward, come forward."

The Bakersfield Police Department Major Collision Investigation Team is investigating this incident. Investigators have obtained video filmed by a community member who was trailing the main group of demonstrators as they marched westbound on California Avenue toward Oak Street.

The video shows the pedestrian moving northbound across the eastbound lanes of traffic towards the center median when the vehicle struck him.

The Bakersfield Police Department says the driver involved in the California Avenue incident was taken in but found not to be impaired, and they don't believe speed was a factor in the case.

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