A motorist whose car crashed Friday on Ortega Highway near San Juan Capistrano was killed in a hit-and-run that happened after he got out of his vehicle, the California Highway Patrol said.
Elijah Ward, 20, of Foothill Ranch, was struck a half-mile to a mile east of Antonio Parkway and died at the scene, CHP Officer Pete Kim said.
Investigators cannot pinpoint exactly when Ward was killed, but a motorist driving by saw the body about 4:25 a.m. and called authorities, Kim said.
About a quarter-mile from where the body was found, police recovered the victim’s Scion, which had been in a rollover accident, Kim said.
“He was definitely involved in a previous collision,” Kim said.
Investigators suspect the victim walked away from the initial collision westbound on the highway before he was struck by another vehicle, thought to be a white 2010-13 Subaru Legacy, Kim said.
Investigators recovered parts from the vehicle that came off in the collision, Kim said.
The parts come from the right side and right front of the vehicle.
The CHP was asking anyone who has seen a damaged 2010-13 Subaru Legacy to call CHP Officer Jim Kelley at (714) 240-3752.
The collision happened in a remote area surrounded by fields, Kim said.
“It’s dark out there and there are no lights and it was pretty foggy this morning,” Kim said.
— City News Service