Senior couple was hit in the area of Hamilton and Chestnut Avenues
FRESNO, CA, (January 22, 2025) - The elderly woman who a suspected drunk driver fatally struck on Wednesday, Jan. 22, has been identified by the Fresno County Coroner’s Office as Micaela Segura Morales.
Micaela Segura Morales, 98, was struck and killed by an allegedly impaired driver at Hamilton and Chestnut Avenues in Fresno Wednesday evening, according to authorities.
The same incident also left an 82-year-old man—who was crossing the street with Morales—severely hurt.
According to preliminary reports, the crash happened at Hamilton and Chestnut Avenues in Fresno around 5:50 p.m. when a 56-year-old driver crashed into the couple attempting to cross the street. While Morales, 98, from Fresno, passed away, the unidentified 82-year-old man was hospitalized with injuries to his head, ribs, and lungs.
The 56-year-old driver, officials said, faces multiple charges, including gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and DUI causing injury/death.
This is an ongoing investigation.
CRASH INVESTIGATION NEEDED
DUI crashes, most experts say, are 100% avoidable. Impaired drivers are a risk to everyone on the road, and can senselessly ruin people's lives.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), pedestrians are constantly in danger on U.S. roadways, with 67,336 crashes injuring pedestrians and 7,522 fatal pedestrian accidents in 2022 alone.
“In most instances, pedestrians possess the right of way when crossing an intersection or a street regardless of if they are in a marked crosswalk,” said Bond, Managing Partner of Bond Legal.
“It is always a driver’s duty to yield to any pedestrian.”
Bond, an experienced pedestrian accident attorney, noted that in cases such as this, it is imperative to have an independent probe conducted by a seasoned lawyer to help protect the rights of the victim's family.
WRONGFUL DEATH CLAIM
Pending the investigation, the family members of Micaela Segura Morales may pursue a wrongful death claim. Family members of wrongful death victims may seek damages for loss of companionship, pain and suffering, and emotional distress following a tragic accident such as this.
“The stress and sorrow can be extremely overwhelming after losing a loved one in an accident,” said Bond, who is also a national legal analyst for Newsline.
“We understand just what families must go through, and having their rights protected is vital. A wrongful death lawyer will stay updated on the official investigation and help ensure that their legal rights and best interests are protected.”
If you have been injured or a loved one has been killed at the hands of a drunken driver and would like a no-cost consultation, our national legal analyst Candice Bond is available for a free consultation to guide you.
(Candice Bond, our national legal analyst, is a Managing Partner at Bond Legal. Newsline can and does use quotes from prior interviews with our analysts for our news articles. If you would like to contact Bond Legal to help you, please call 866-985-6515 or use the submission box found on this page. Legal analysts quoted may or may not be licensed in your state).