20-Year-Old Arrested for Hit and Run Accident on I-80

By Bay City News Service

A 20-year-old man has been arrested in connection with a hit and run collision that killed a 75-year-old man driving a pickup truck on westbound Interstate Highway 80 on Friday morning, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The deceased driver, identified by the Solano County Coroner's Office as Sacramento resident Chia Thai Yang, was heading west on I-80 near Dixon Avenue at 6:20 a.m. when another driver attempted to enter traffic in front of Yang's vehicle, causing Yang's truck to go off the roadway and into a ditch, according to the coroner's office and CHP officials.

A CHP investigation into the collision revealed that 20-year-old Suisun City resident Damarea D.W. Evans, was speeding on westbound I-80 in a 1992 Mitsubishi Gallant with a passenger, identified as 19-year-old Fairfield resident Conner N. Lewallen.

Evans attempted to pass a 2004 Mazda 3 on the roadway, but rear-ended the vehicle. The driver of the Mazda slowed and attempted to get Evan's attention, but Evans ignored the driver of the Mazda and sped away, according to the CHP.

Evans then continued west for about two miles, but due to damage sustained in the collision, he pulled over to the right-hand shoulder to inspect the vehicle, the CHP said.

A short while later, Evans accelerated and attempted to re-enter traffic, according to the CHP.

Evans hastily entered the roadway directly in front of Yang, who was driving a 1990 Nissan Frontier, the CHP said.

Evan struck Yang's truck causing Yang to lose control of his vehicle. Yang's truck traveled through a fence and into a ditch, according to the CHP.

Yang was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the collision and died of his injuries at Kaiser Foundation Hospital in Vacaville a short time later, CHP Officer Chris Parker said.

Evans had fled the scene of the collision without stopping and continued west for about another mile, the CHP said.

Due to damages sustained during both collisions, including a disintegrated left front tire, Evans was unable to continue driving the vehicle and pulled over to the right shoulder, officer said.

Evans and Lewallen abandoned the vehicle on the side of the highway and fled on foot, away from the scenes of the collisions, the CHP said.

Officers were able to identify Evans and he was promptly located and arrested for vehicular manslaughter and felony hit and run. He was booked into Solano County Jail, according to the CHP.