MONTEREY >> The California Highway Patrol asks for the community’s help in identifying the driver in a hit-and-run fatal accident that occurred Sunday morning on Highway 1.
About 9:45 a.m., the Monterey Communication Center received a call about a crash that occurred on northbound Highway 1, north of Munras Avenue in Monterey.
On the day of the crash, a woman, 19, from Shelby, North Carolina, was driving a black Honda Civic traveling in the No. 1 (left) lane of northbound Highway 1, north of Munras Avenue. An unidentified vehicle was traveling in the No. 2 (right) lane of northbound Highway 1, to the right rear of the Honda, according to the California Highway Patrol.
For an undetermined reason, the unidentified vehicle’s driver veered left into the left lane and crashed into the right rear of the Honda. As a result, the Honda lost control, veered right and off the roadway where it began to overturn and ultimately crashed into a tree. The Honda subsequently came to rest on its wheels on the dirt embankment, facing south. The unidentified vehicle continued northbound on Highway 1 and fled the scene.
The driver of the Honda sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. The Monterey County Coroner’s Office will provide the identity of the Honda driver upon the next of kin being notified.
It is unknown if alcohol or drugs were a contributing factor in the crash.
The CHP is seeking the public’s assistance with this fatal hit-and-run crash. If you were in the area and have any information on the identification of the driver of the unidentified vehicle, please call the California Highway Patrol Monterey Area Office 24 hours a day at 831-796-2160. You can also call the California Highway Patrol Monterey Area Office during business hours at 831-770-8000 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.