Surveillance reports released to ABC7 News show the suspect driver involved, just moments after the collision. He was seen turning from Ocala Avenue at Wesley Court in East San Jose. “He tried to drive on my way to escape faster,” said Edelin Polet. “However, my path is a dead end.” VIDEO: 2 women pedestrians were killed in San Jose, according to the police Seconds later, Paulet’s cameras also captured the driver speeding out of the impasse. The driver, who police believe is a man, was removed from the scene. “How can you take away two innocent lives and then leave? It’s pure selfishness,” Paulet told ABC7 News. “It’s very careless. It’s a huge tragedy after all.” Just before 6:30 p.m. Thursday night, the women were walking on a painted walkway along Ocala Avenue and Oakton Court. The red truck then hit them and took off. As of Friday night, the driver remained free. “That could be one of our family members out there, right? I mean, and that’s why we want to find and arrest this person,” Sgt said. Christian Camarillo with the SJPD said. “I mean, they are responsible for two charges, right now, of negligent homicide.” Neighbors said the victims were relatives – a mother and her adult daughter. Paulet lives directly opposite the women and was familiar with their evening walks in the neighborhood. “This was something everyday. So the fact that yesterday, their daily activity ended with the dead is just, it’s crazy,” he added. EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: Cyclist almost hit by car accident as San Jose faces major road fatalities Other neighbors shared the rage. Angel Guzman said she felt the safety of East San Jose residents was not a priority. He told ABC7 News, “This could have been prevented! This could have been prevented! It should not have been – there is no reason – there is no security for us!” “This is a residential area with schools. I am outraged that this is not the first time this has happened,” Guzman said. “And as long as this continues, as long as there is no pedestrian safety infrastructure, this will continue.” RELATED: Mayor SJ files before CA lawmakers, now speed cameras could soon come to 3 Bay Area cities According to the city’s Department of Transportation (DOT), there is already a project to improve safety on the road. “It’s called the Mount Pleasant Safety Improvements Project. We expect it to be in the fall of 2023. It’s still in the planning phase now,” Colin Heyne told the San Jose DOT. “It will have curbs with bulbs so that the crossing distance is shorter. It will have a pedestrian shelter island in the middle of the road and it will have these flashing lighthouses,” Heyne told ABC7 News. He continued, “It seems we can not make these security improvements fast enough to keep up with the pace of conflict and death.” RELATED: San Jose on the verge of surpassing the record of road deaths after 2 dead in a road accident Heyne said that between 2016 and 2020, there were three accidents in Ocala and Oakton, which resulted in two minor injuries. He said across the city, there have never been so many deadly traffic accidents up to this time of year. Heyne added that last year the city reported 11 cases this time of year. “It’s hard to find the right superlative. It’s catastrophic and it is unprecedented. At this point this year, we have now lost 26 members of the community to traffic jams and road accidents,” said Heyne. San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo told reporters at a news conference on Friday morning: “We are pushing a lot of levers to improve road safety in our city. And obviously we have a lot more work to do.” Thursday’s fatal collision and run marks the 24th fatal crash in San Jose this year and the 13th and 14th pedestrian deaths. “They did what they had to do. They did what we asked people to do to keep themselves safe,” Heyne said. “This is clearly the fault of the driver of the vehicle who, of course, not only collided with them, but then fled the scene. And it is completely unacceptable.” Sgt. Camarillo with SJPD told reporters: “It looks like a crew cabin truck with a bed cover on it. It is a newer model. It is quite clear in the pictures, I think it is GMC.” The suspect was last seen driving north on the Capitol Expressway. The incident is now being investigated as a felony. The identities of the victims will be made public by the Santa Clara County Medical Examiner’s Office as soon as they confirm the identities of the victims and notify their immediate relatives. Copyright © 2022 KGO-TV. All rights reserved.
