Man involved days earlier in I-5 chase is hit by car, killed while walking along Fresno highway
A man who days earlier was involved in a chase along Interstate 5 was struck by an SUV and killed as he walked along Highway 41 in Fresno early Saturday, with the driver of the SUV also severely injured.
Derris Kennedy, 26, of Alabama was believed to be a transient, the California Highway Patrol noted in its initial report on Saturday’s early-morning incident. But on Wednesday afternoon, he had been arrested on suspicion of felony evading, assault and attempted carjacking after a wild pursuit involving a CHP helicopter on I-5.
Kennedy was walking in the traffic lanes of Highway 41, where it transitions to Highway 180, about 1:30 a.m. Saturday. The driver of a 2001 Suzuki Vitara, traveling southbound at about 65 mph, was unable to avoid the man.
The driver, a 60-year-old Sanger man, was taken to Community Regional Medical Center for treatment of injuries described only as major in a CHP report.
It was unknown why Kennedy was walking on the highway, Salas said. There was no indication that alcohol or drugs were a factor, but the investigation is ongoing.
Wednesday’s incident began sometime before noon when the CHP’s Coalinga office was alerted of a Volvo tractor-trailer headed south on I-5 that was driving recklessly in a pursuit that began near Stockton.
As the truck was tracked by the helicopter, it was involved in a collision near Derrick Avenue in Fresno County and overturned. The CHP said that Kennedy ran from the truck, and as traffic slowed, attempted to carjack several vehicles.
With officers arriving, Kennedy became combative, but was subdued and taken to Community Medical Center before being booked in the Fresno County Jail. He was released on bail Friday evening, according to jail records.
This story was originally published October 17, 2020 at 3:28 PM.
