Desmond Gallagher Obituary, Death – Authorities continued their investigation on Saturday into a fatal hit-and-run accident that resulted in the death of a man pushing a shopping cart on state Route 74 in Lake Elsinore. The motorist involved is suspected of being under the influence of alcohol.
The collision occurred around 9:27 p.m. Thursday, west of Ardenwood Way. According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), officers were dispatched to the scene where a pedestrian had been struck by a 2018 Nissan Versa.
The investigation revealed that the driver had been following the pedestrian before making an unsafe right turn, which led to the vehicle hitting the victim. The pedestrian, identified as 57-year-old Desmond Gallagher from Lake Elsinore, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Following the crash, the driver fled to a residence in Lake Elsinore. Authorities later apprehended the suspect and booked them into the Cois M. Byrd Detention Center. The charges against the driver include suspicion of driving under the influence, felony hit-and-run, and gross vehicular manslaughter.
The CHP is asking anyone with information about the accident to contact their Temecula office at 951-466-4300.