Crime & Safety
Man in Hit-N-Run Accident Dies at SJ Hospital
Officials erroneously reportedly the bicyclist's death Friday. Law enforcement still seeking owner of Mazda with missing hubcap.
A bicyclist died this morning from injuries suffered in a hit-and-run collision with a car in Soquel last Friday and the car's driver is still at large, according to the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office.
Ben Creech, 65, of Santa Cruz, passed away at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center in San Jose, where he was taken to be treated for major injuries he had suffered in the collision, sheriff's Deputy Ryan Kennedy said.
Creech died this morning, not on Saturday as had been previously reported by the California Highway Patrol, Kennedy said.
At about 11:55 p.m. Friday, Creech was riding his bicycle east in the westbound bike lane on Soquel Drive west of North Rodeo Gulch when he lost control of the bike and fell into lanes of traffic, according to the CHP.
The driver of a car heading west on Soquel Drive struck the man and fled the scene, CHP officials said.
A damaged Mazda hubcap was found at the scene and the suspect's car is believed to be a mid 2000s Mazda sedan that is now missing a hubcap, according to the CHP.
The CHP is still seeking witnesses to the collision and is urging anyone who saw it or has information to call the California Highway Patrol Santa Cruz area office at (831) 796-2160.
-- Bay City News
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
