MODESTO, Calif. — Authorities have identified the woman killed in a tragic hit-and-run crash in Modesto and are now urging the public to help locate the driver responsible for leaving the scene. The incident has left the community shaken as investigators work to bring clarity and accountability.
The Stanislaus County Coroner’s Office confirmed the victim as 44-year-old Sarah Poplasky of Modesto. According to the California Highway Patrol, the fatal crash occurred at approximately 8:20 p.m. on April 24 along Riverside Drive, just south of Nathan Avenue.
When officers arrived, they found Poplasky lying in the roadway with severe injuries consistent with being struck by a vehicle. Despite emergency response efforts, she was pronounced dead at the scene, marking a devastating loss that has deeply affected those who knew her.
Investigators say Poplasky had been standing on the east shoulder of Riverside Drive before she entered the roadway and moved into the path of northbound traffic. She was first struck by a 2000 Ford pickup truck driven by a 59-year-old Modesto man, who remained at the scene and cooperated fully with authorities.
After the initial impact, Poplasky came to rest in the northbound lane, where she was struck a second time by another vehicle traveling behind the pickup. That vehicle, described as a white sedan possibly a Nissan or similar imported model, did not stop and fled the scene. Authorities believe the vehicle may have damage to its lower front bumper and was last seen heading northbound on Riverside Drive.
The California Highway Patrol continues to actively search for the driver involved in the hit-and-run. Officials are asking anyone with information to contact CHP Modesto Detective Aaron Norseen at 209-545-7440. As the investigation continues, the death of Sarah Poplasky serves as a painful reminder of the importance of accountability on the road and the lasting impact of such tragedies.