Suspect Arrested in Weekend Hit and Run

Police have arrested a man in connection with a fatal hit and run accident that killed a well-known Southern California doctor last Saturday morning in Newport Beach.

39 year old Michael Jason Lopez of Anaheim was arrested early Tuesday morning and booked for vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence for a crash that killed 57 year old Dr. Catherine Campion Ruiz who was out for a morning bike ride.

The crash took place at around 9:45 a.m. in the northbound lanes of Newport Coast Drive between Ocean Ridge Drive and Vista Ridge Drive where Lopez’s black pickup truck crashed into the back of Ruiz’s bike, causing her to fall to the ground and suffer serious injuries. Instead of stopping after the collision, Lopez immediately drove away from the scene.

Dr. Ruiz was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital in critical condition, where she later died as a result of her injures. Another biker was with Ruiz at the time of the accident, though she was unhurt in the ordeal.

Lopez is currently being held at the Newport Beach Police Jail on $100,000 bail. The dates and times for any follow up legal action has yet to be announced.

Newport Beach police are asking for anyone with any additional information about the accident to contact their traffic investigators as soon as possible.

While behind the wheel, all drivers have the responsibility to look out for bikers and motorcyclists in the area. These small vehicles are easy to miss, and even the slightest collisions can do serious or fatal damage.

A collision that may seem to do nothing more than a minor dent on your car’s front fender could be enough to knock a rider to the hard pavement and inflict irreversible damage.

Victims who have been involved in such crashes should look to the assistance of a highly trained bicycle accident lawyer who can lead them through the complicated legal process and get them the compensation they deserve from those who were at fault in the accident.

Damages from bicycle accidents like these can inflict the kinds of damages that require thousands of dollars and weeks or months to repair. At AA Accident Attorneys, we can help victims get what they need to recover. Our Newport Beach accident lawyers are experienced professionals who have handled cases just like yours for years.

We will not charge you a thing for our services until your case has been won. Call us today for a free evaluation and to learn what we can do to help you onto the road to recovery.