Driver Arrested After Road Worker Dies in Big Bear Hit-and-Run

BIG BEAR LAKE, CA – A 43-year-old road worker died after a driver entered a construction closure on State Route 38 in the Big Bear area and struck him Monday morning, according to the California Highway Patrol. Officers arrested a 90-year-old Big Bear Lake man later that day. 

The collision occurred at about 7:07 a.m. on Aug. 31 east of Green Way Drive. Edgar Chavez of Riverside was standing in the roadway within the closed work area when an eastbound 2012 Toyota passed through the cone pattern and hit him, the CHP said. 

Investigators identified the driver as Donald Parker. After the collision, authorities said, Parker continued east on State Route 38 and left the scene. The CHP had not determined why the Toyota entered the closure. 

If you or a loved one have been injured in an accident, we’d like to speak with you. Our accident attorneys are available for a free and confidential consultation, 24/7.

Edgar Chavez died after hospital transport 

Emergency personnel performed CPR after reaching Chavez. He was taken to Bear Valley Hospital with major injuries and later died, the CHP said. The San Bernardino County Coroner’s Office subsequently released his name and identified him as a Riverside resident. 

The collision prompted a full closure of State Route 38 while officers investigated the scene. The highway remained closed through most of the afternoon as the investigation continued. 

The CHP announced Parker’s arrest the following day. Arrowhead Area officers took him into custody at about 2:45 p.m. Monday in the 41600 block of Mockingbird in Big Bear Lake. State Route 38 reopened about 45 minutes later, ending a closure that had lasted more than eight hours. 

Specialized CHP teams joined investigation 

Booking records listed Parker’s alleged offenses as voluntary manslaughter and hit-and-run involving injury. He was later released on bail. The booking entries described the basis for his arrest and did not constitute a finding of guilt. 

The CHP’s Inland Division Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation Team and its Investigative Services Unit were assigned to assist the Arrowhead Area office. Their work continued after the arrest because the agency had not released a final account of how the Toyota reached the closed section of highway. 

The investigation centered on a collision inside an active traffic-control zone rather than an open travel lane. Authorities confirmed that Chavez was within the construction closure when he was struck, but they had not identified his employer or described the road project underway that morning. 

The CHP asked witnesses or anyone with additional information to contact Officer D. Julien at the Arrowhead Area office. The agency had not announced any additional arrests or released a final investigative report as of Tuesday’s update.