Full Notification

Update: 

After an exhaustive investigation, the suspect vehicle in this morning’s hit-and-run was located driving northbound on Pennsylvania Avenue. A traffic stop was conducted at approximately 2:00 pm, and 62-year-old John Steingass of Fairfield was taken into custody without incident. He was charged with felony hit and run and transported to County Jail.


Original Release:

After an exhaustive investigation, the suspect vehicle in this morning’s hit-and-run was located driving northbound on Pennsylvania Avenue. A traffic stop was conducted at approximately 2:00 pm, and 62-year-old John Steingass was taken into custody without incident. He was charged with felony hit and run and transported to County Jail.

On October 2 at around 11:01 pm, a woman was crossing East Travis Boulevard (south to north) at Kidder Avenue on foot, when she was struck by a pickup truck traveling westbound on East Travis Boulevard. 

Officers arrived within 20 seconds and immediately began CPR. When Medics arrived on scene, the woman was unfortunately pronounced deceased. 

The driver of the vehicle, identified as 44-year-old Angelica Medina of Suisun, stopped and was investigated for DUI. Responding officers ultimately determined Medina was under the influence of drugs. She was arrested and booked into County Jail for vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated. 

The victim’s family was on scene and have been notified. However, her name will not be released out of respect for the family. 

Then, this morning another pedestrian, a man, was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver as he crossed Sunset Avenue. The Traffic Unit immediately responded and began conducting an investigation, which remains active. 

In both cases, the affected streets were closed for several hours. They have since reopened. 

Both tragedies come on the heels of two pedestrian versus vehicle collisions that occurred just last week, bringing the 30 day tally of pedestrian versus vehicle collisions involving injury up to 7. 

Whether the contributing factor was speed, driving while impaired or inattention/distraction, all are absolutely inexcusable. 

At Fairfield Police Department, we are committed to ensuring the safety of the entire community. While Public Works continues updating speed limits across the city based upon the most recent speed survey, the community can also expect an even greater increase in traffic enforcement from us, to include the implementation of strategies specifically aimed at addressing pedestrian violations. 

We also implore the members of our  community, once again, for their cooperation. We can never emphasize enough, for both pedestrians and motorists, the importance of observing all traffic laws. 

Drivers

• Do not speed, and slow down at intersections. Be prepared to stop for pedestrians at marked and unmarked crosswalks.

• Avoid blocking crosswalks while waiting to make a right-hand turn.

• Never drive impaired.

Pedestrians

• Be predictable. Use signalized crosswalks where drivers may anticipate foot traffic.

• Watch for approaching vehicles and practice due care crossing the street. At 30 mph, a driver needs at least 90 feet to stop.

• Make it easier for drivers to see you at night – consider wearing bright colors and reflective material or use a flashlight when practical.

• Be careful crossing streets or entering crosswalks at night or on busier streets with higher speed limits.

We have to take this seriously, together. Because it’s only together that we can bring about change.