CHP looking for driver in fatal accident near Turlock; Victim ID’d

The California Highway Patrol is looking for the driver of a vehicle that ran over a 50-year-old Turlock man then fled the scene Tuesday night.

Benjamin Camarillo died at the scene east of Turlock. He was riding a bicycle west on East Avenue near Vincent Road at about 8:40 p.m., said CHP officer Chuck Leon.

Camarillo was in the middle of the road, it’s unknown if he was crossing to the other side, when he was struck by a Chevrolet pickup heading east at about 55 mph.

Camarillo was ejected from his bicycle and landed in the westbound lane, Leon said.

He said the driver of the pickup, 23-year-old Nicholas McGinnis, of Ballico, didn’t see Camarillo until he hit him. There are no streetlights on that stretch of East Avenue.

McGinnis stopped and was flagging down other drivers traveling east when Camarillo was run over by a red sedan heading west.

The driver fled the scene, continuing toward Turlock, Leon said.

It’s unknown if Camarillo was still alive when he was hit the second time. McGinnis told officers he didn’t see him move or hear him speak.

The car that fled the scene is described as a red four-door sedan, possibly a Honda Civic. It will have a considerable amount of damage to the lower left front bumper and left front fender. The air dam under the bumper and a plastic left inner fender well were ripped off and found at the scene.

Anyone with information about the red car or its driver is asked to call Leon or Officer John Peregoy at (209) 545-7440.

This story was originally published April 6, 2016 at 3:07 PM with the headline "CHP looking for driver in fatal accident near Turlock; Victim ID’d."