Truck seized, victim identified in deadly hit-and-run in Ceres
California Highway Patrol investigators on Monday found a pickup they believe was involved in a Ceres hit-and-run Friday evening that killed a bicyclist.
Also Monday, Stanislaus County coroner's officials released the name of Aaron Bryant, a 27-year-old man who was riding a bicycle in Ceres on Friday evening when he was struck by the pickup that drove away before authorities arrived.
About 1:15 p.m., the CHP was notified by a tipster who had possibly spotted a parked GMC Sierra pickup that matched the description of the vehicle involved in the crash. CHP investigators found the pickup parked in the Ceres area and confirmed it was the vehicle they had been looking for.
As of Monday afternoon, no arrests had been made.
The CHP said the Ceres man was riding a maroon BMX bike when he was struck by a dark-colored GMC Sierra pickup, possibly a 2014 or 2015 model.
The force of the impact propelled Bryant from his bike. The CHP said Bryant then struck a wooden utility pole; he died later from his injuries.
The deadly hit-and-run was reported shortly after 6 p.m. Friday at the intersection of Service and Moffett roads in Ceres, just south of the Ceres Recycling Center.
CHP investigators determined that the pickup driver was heading west on Service and approaching Moffett at an unknown speed. Bryant was riding his BMX bike, also on Service and approaching Moffett, when the bicyclist entered the intersection in a southerly direction into the pickup's path for an unknown reason.
That's when the pickup struck the bicyclist. The pickup continued west on Service and then turned north on Blaker Road, leaving the scene before authorities arrived.
The CHP said the GMC Sierra pickup should have damage on its right headlight, front fender and driver's side mirror. Authorities released an image of the suspected pickup captured with a security camera.
Investigators ask anyone with information about this hit-and-run to call Modesto-area CHP Office at (209) 545-7440.
This story was originally published June 18, 2018 at 11:08 AM with the headline "Truck seized, victim identified in deadly hit-and-run in Ceres."