Stockton Police Employee Hit While Crossing Street Dies
STOCKTON (CBS13) - The Stockton Police Department employee who was hit while crossing the street on his way to work this morning has died, say authorities.
Just after 7 a.m. Friday, 70-year-old Jimmy Pendergrass was crossing Washington Street near El Dorado Street when the suspect vehicle, which was heading northbound on El Dorado, turned left and hit him. It then drove off westbound on El Dorado Street.
"When our officers arrived on scene, they immediately recognized the man as one of our part-time background investigators," said Stockton Police spokesman Joe Silva.
Pendergrass was taken to the hospital in Modesto in critical condition.
HIT & RUN UPDATE: It's with great sadness to report our employee, Jimmy Pendergrass, 70 y/o, has died from his injuries.
— Stockton Police Dept (@StocktonPolice) December 23, 2014
Police released photos of the vehicle on Tuesday afternoon. It has been identified as a dark green or dark-colored, late '80s or early '90s Dodge Caravan-style van. The vehicle had previously been described as a green '90s coupe.
Police say Pendergrass was a 30-year veteran of the department and had been working part-time as a background investigator.
After parking in the police employee lot, the investigators waited for the light, but no sooner did he step on the crosswalk than the vehicle struck him. The car didn't stop, but instead sped onward.
Another driver saw Pendergrass in the street and stopped his silver car to block the intersection until police arrived.
"He came to work everyday with a big smile on his face and was just always in the hallways talking to people, joking with people," Silva said.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call Stockton Crime Stoppers at (209) 946-0600. They could be eligible for a $10,000 reward.
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