Was it a crime? CHP refers fatal Fresno pedestrian collision to district attorney

The California Highway Patrol will refer charges of misdemeanor manslaughter to the Fresno County District Attorney in a case involving an 80-year-old pedestrian who died after a collision in northeast Fresno.

Larry Raven of Fresno was hit by a pickup in northeast Fresno on Jan. 6 and subsequently died.

CHP spokesman Mike Salas on Friday noted that it would be up to the DA’s office whether charges would be filed.

A spokesman for the district attorney said the office was aware of the incident, but it had not received the collision report for review.

According to the CHP report, the collision took place on North Bunkerhill Drive just north of East Ticonderoga Drive.

Just before 2 p.m., Vernardo Orgeta, 42, of Visalia was backing up a Ford F-250 truck from a private driveway. A Chevrolet was stopped in the northbound lane of Bunkerhill to the east of Ortega’s pickup. Ortega collided with the left side of the Chevrolet and then struck Raven, who was knocked to the roadway. Raven was taken to Community Regional Medical Center, where he died from the injuries.

Salas, of the CHP, said he did not know for certain why Raven was in the roadway, but it was possible that he was talking to another person at the time of the collision.

This story was originally published January 24, 2020 at 12:08 PM.