A woman died after a car hit her car from behind. The other driver left scene, CHP says

UPDATE: The California Highway Patrol reported Friday that Hector Castro Jr., 22, of Lindsay turned himself into the Dinuba Police Department about 2:30 p.m. on July 4 and identified himself as the driver who left the scene of the fatal crash.

CHP says Castro told investigators that he had fallen asleep while driving from the Orosi area, and thought he had hit a tree or a pole. A friend picked him up and he intended to return later for his car.

ORIGINAL STORY: The California Highway Patrol is investigating a deadly hit-and-run accident that happened Wednesday morning east of Dinuba in Tulare County.

Two 21-year-old women were in the car that was hit. The CHP said the passenger, from Dinuba, was killed. Her name was not released pending notification of family.

Sgt. Ryan Pedersen said that a driver in a gray 2011 Chevy Malibu struck a red 2005 Toyota Matrix from behind around 4:30 a.m. Wednesday and the driver of the Malibu left the car behind and fled the scene. The impact of the crash left the woman passenger pinned in the Matrix when that car struck a pole, Pedersen said. The woman died at the scene.

The crash happened on Avenue 408 just east of Road 104 as the driver in the Malibu and the women in the Matrix drove west on Avenue 408. CHP investigators said the Malibu was traveling well above the speed limit when it struck the Matrix. The driver of the Matrix, identified by the CHP as Jennifer Magana of Sultana, suffered major injuries including a broken leg and internal damages. Magana was flown to Community Regional Medical Center, according to Pedersen.

Pedersen said the driver of the Malibu who ran from the crash scene may have been picked up by another car. The identity of that person is unknown.

Pedersen said everyone involved appeared to be wearing seat belts and it is unknown if alcohol or drugs were a factor in the crash.

This story was originally published July 4, 2018 at 8:34 AM.