Man fixing flat tire on 210 Freeway killed by hit-and-run driver

FONTANA, Calif. (KABC) -- A manhunt is underway after police said a man fixing a flat tire on the shoulder of the 210 Freeway was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver in Fontana.

The incident happened around 3:45 a.m. on Sunday near the Cherry Avenue off-ramp, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Jose Alvarado was in a Honda with two other people when the driver pulled over. The 55-year-old Pomona resident was the front seat passenger when he got out to fix the flat.

CHP said a white SUV exiting Cherry Avenue fatally struck Alvarado, hit the right side of the Honda and nearly struck another person who was lucky enough to jump out of the way.

"He dove into the car to get out of the way. The right front passenger did not see the car coming, he could not get out of the way and he was struck by the vehicle," Officer Jesus Garcia with the California Highway Patrol said.

Alvarado was pronounced dead at the scene. CHP said the driver in the SUV kept driving and was well aware of what happened.

"We know that the driver knows what happened. We're asking that if he sees this to please turn himself in or to contact the Rancho Cucamonga CHP Office," Garcia said.

Authorities believed the suspect lived in the area since the driver was exiting the freeway at the time.

Based on evidence at the scene, CHP said the SUV suffered extensive damage to the front end, to the front bumper, the grill and may have lost a headlight.

"We located some parts from the front end of the vehicle, so at this time the officers are going through and we're either going to search the local area to see if there are any cameras that captured the vehicle exiting or go to local dealerships and see if we can match up the parts to a certain vehicle," Garcia explained.

Anyone with information about the incident should call the California Highway Patrol's Rancho Cucamonga Office at (909) 980-3994.