The California Highway Patrol released a statement on Friday of the hit and run that took place earlier that morning.
At around 5:10 am, 33-year-old George W. Pitman was driving his 2018 Nissan HV2500 van on eastbound highway 46, approaching the Shandon rest area at an undetermined speed. The release says there was heavy fog in the area, but traffic was light.
As Pitman approached the rest area in the left lane, an unknown driver operating a commercial truck tractor and trailer combination pulled out from the Shandon rest area across the eastbound lanes of highway 46 and directly into Pitman’s path. Pitman’s vehicle collided with the truck and spun out of control. The driver from the truck exited the vehicle and fled the scene.
Emergency crews arrived to find Pitman trapped inside his vehicle with major injuries, a broken femur and severe head trauma, and was subsequently airlifted to the Sierra Vista regional medical center. CHP says it is unknown if the truck driver was under the influence or distracted. CHP is asking anyone with information to call the Templeton CHP office at (805) 400 – 6720.