The California Highway Patrol is seeking the public's help locating a car connected to a fatal collision Saturday night.
At about 8:45 p.m., a Ford pickup truck was seen hitting a male pedestrian in the area of Alum Rock and Harriet avenues, the CHP said. The man was identified Monday by the Santa Clara County Coroner as Carlton Ford, 61, of San Jose.
Monday, CHP investigators talked to neighbors to try to find the driver who hit a man then drove off. The victim was walking near Harriet Avenue when witnesses say a truck slammed into him, killing him.
Witnesses described the truck as a late model, full-sized car with oversized tires. It is light-colored possibly with a red stripe down the hood, the CHP said.
Police said it was dark, and witnesses saw a pickup truck leave the scene heading north on Pickford Avenue. The pickup was white or beige in color and had a red stripe on the hood.
No license plate number or driver description was provided.
Witnesses said the victim lived in the neighborhood. They said Carlton Ford walked with his cane to the library almost every day.
"He just left him there," said Mary Lampietro, who lives in the area. "How could you do that? How could anybody do that? It’s terrible."
CHP officers said on Friday night there was another hit-and-run just three blocks away on Sunnyslope Avenue. The suspect’s vehicle in that case was also a truck.
“A trailer came dislodged and rolled backwards and collided with a gentleman who suffered major injuries,” CHP’s Chris Falkowski said.
Officers say they don’t know if the truck is the same one that hit Carlton ford, but they are looking into the possibility.
In the meantime, neighbors are now calling for safety improvements, including better lighting and more crosswalks. They hope those changes will prevent another tragedy.
Anyone with information about either incident is asked to call the CHP at (408) 467-5400 or (707) 551-4100.
Bay City News contributed to this report.
