With the high number of students who commute to Sacramento State, a majority of them have parked in the parking structures – a hot spot for hit-and-runs to occur.

Since the beginning of the spring semester, University Police reported more than 16 hit-and-runs within the three parking structures on campus.

Parking Structure II has shown the most this semester with nine reported in the last 15 weeks while Parking Structure I came in second with seven hit-and-runs reported.

“There is a higher frequency of vehicle collisions in the parking structures, compared to surface roadways and parking lots,” said University Police Corporal Scott Christian.

Christian said parking structures are more likely to have vehicle collisions – such as hit-and-runs – because of various reasons.

“Parking vehicles in a parking structure of any kind can be difficult, depending on traffic conditions, pedestrians, and parking conditions within the structure,” Christian said.

Parking structures can be tricky places to park and even get in and out of, but Chistian said they were built with enough room for cars to move around safely. 

“Parking structures are engineered for most vehicles to safely park and maneuver without causing a hazard,” Christian said.

According to Christian finding the hit-and-run suspects all depends on if a note was left or if there was a first-hand witness.

Christian said to stop and don’t leave the scene if involved in a collision to avoid a hit-and-run. He also said to leave a note with the appropriate information.

Christian said the note should have the driver’s information such as name and address. The circumstances of the accident should be listed as well so the owner of the suspected vehicle will know what happened.

“California law states that if a driver is involved in a property damage only hit and run, they are required to either locate and notify the owner, or leave a note in a conspicuous place on the vehicle (or property that was damaged in the collision),” Christian said.

Elisha Angrisani can be reached at [email protected].