According to state prosecutors, Christopher Keller, 25, from Newcastle, was driving a 1991 Honda Accord on March 20, on Interstate 80 in Auburn. As he neared the Ophir Road exit, Keller’s car struck and killed David Robinson, Jr., a tow-truck driver who was standing outside his vehicle when Keller hit him.
After the accident, Keller actually came upon a California Highway patrolman about an hour after the accident and when questioned about his shattered windscreen, told the trooper he had hit a deer. He then drove the Honda to a house in Foresthill, covered the car with a tarp and stayed there until police found and arrested him the following Sunday.
In court, Keller’s attorney asked for the case to be continued until May 10, and asked that Keller’s $75,000 bail requirement be lowered, according to the report on News Channel 10.
We would like to send our sincere condolences to the family and friends of David Robinson, Jr. Our thoughts are with you at this very difficult time.
Hit-and-run is a serious crime, and conviction will result in your driving privileges being suspended or revoked. In any accident, you have the following obligations:
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Stop at once. If anyone is killed or unconscious, you must stay at the scene until a police officer arrives.
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Render aid. Do not move an injured person carelessly, but give reasonable aid
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Exchange information with the other driver. Give them your name, address, driver’s license number, license plate number, and insurance information. DMV offers a printable checklist you can download and keep in your car.
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Report the accident to DMV.
While we are glad that Keller was apprehended, we can’t help being horrified by this hit-and-run. Keller may have been frightened and in shock, but that does not excuse leaving Robinson at the scene. David Robinson was dying, and leaving him was inexcusable. We implore drivers in any accident situation to put the safety and welfare of others above their own interests, and always, always remain at the scene and make sure no one is hurt. We send our deepest sympathies to the Robinson family.
The Sacramento personal injury lawyers at the Demas Law Group, have agreed to serve as the Sacramento area sponsor of the Hit-and-Run Reward Program, which is a program designed to make highways safer by encouraging witnesses to report information regarding hit-and-run drivers involved in serious California car accidents. Those who report a driver will remain and anonymous and will be eligible for a reward if the report results in a criminal conviction. In an effort to combat hit and run driving, the Sacramento personal injury attorneys at Demas Law Group will pay a cash reward to people who call 916 444 0100 and provide an anonymous tip that leads to the conviction of a hit and run driver who was involved in a Sacramento area car accident. The information provided will be forwarded to the appropriate law enforcement agency for follow-up investigation.
Hit-and-run is a serious violation of the California Highway Code. The hit-and-run driver must be held civilly and criminally responsible for his actions. In a case like this, the Robinson family may be well advised to contact a reputed personal injury attorney with experience in hit-and-run crashes who will fight for the justice and compensation that they deserve. At Demas Law Group, we believe that what happened to Robinson is an unacceptable tragedy; we are committed to making sure that hit-and-run drivers are held accountable for their actions and that the victim’s families receive the compensation they deserve.
