Press Release
“Incident:
Injury Traffic Collision
Date/Time:
April 2, 2024 / 8:14 P.M.
Location:
1200 Block of West Henderson Avenue, Porterville
Suspect:
Salvador Arellano-Espinoza, 57-Year-Old, Porterville Resident
Summary:
On April 2, 2024, at approximately 8:14 P.M., Officers with the Porterville Police Department responded to a vehicle versus pedestrian hit-and-run traffic collision in the 1200 Block of West Henderson Avenue. Officers arrived on scene minutes later and located the victim suffering from what appeared to be major injuries. Officers rendered aid until emergency medical personnel arrived on scene and took over. The pedestrian was later transported by air ambulance to an area hospital for further treatment.
After the collision, the suspect vehicle fled the scene, but was followed by a witness to a business in the 700 Block of South Jaye Street, where Officers located and contacted the driver of the suspect vehicle, 57-year-old, Salvador Arellano-Espinoza.
The Porterville Police Department’s Major Accident Investigation Team (MAIT) was summoned to the scene and assumed the collision investigation. Subsequent investigation revealed the pedestrian was walking southbound across Henderson Avenue in an uncontrolled section of the roadway. Arellano-Espinoza was driving a vehicle eastbound Henderson Avenue when he failed to stop for the pedestrian and struck him. Arellano-Espinoza then fled the collision scene.
During the investigation, it was determined Arellano-Espinoza was not injured as a result of the collision, but it was believed Arellano-Espinoza was driving under the influence of alcohol when the collision occurred. Arellano-Espinoza was arrested and booked into the South County Detention Facility on charges of Driving Under the Influence causing Injury, and Hit-and-Run causing injury and is being held in lieu of a $50,000.00 bail.
Anyone with information regarding this investigation is encouraged to contact the Porterville Police Department at (559) 782-7400, or through our departmental Facebook or Instagram page. Those who have information may also provide it anonymously.”
