On a sunny day at Moorpark College Gregory Ballanti drove his car near B lot, but little did he know he would be involved in one of three hit and runs that took places in those first two weeks of school.
When he drove on Collins Road, Ballanti, a 20-year-old sophomore student at Moorpark College with an undecided major, said he was hit by a brown SUV that ran the stop sign hitting the passenger side of his car with enough force to send his car into the next lane.
According to the district crime log, which is updated within 48 hours after a crime is committed and keeps track of crimes at the three district campuses, last year Moorpark College suffered six hit and runs that spread out through the fall semester, but this semester the school has already had three hit and runs in the first two weeks.
The suspects of all three incidents were able to get away with the crime because there were no witnesses or information of the suspect’s car.
Lt. Greg Beckley, supervisor of campus police at Moorpark College, realizes that many of the student drivers are inexperienced, so he recommends student drivers should obey the rules of the road in order to prevent incidents from happening.
“(Students) share this campus and the campus road ways with other inexperienced drivers,” said Beckley.
Ballanti expected the driver of the SUV to come over to him to exchange insurance, but instead the SUV driver fled the scene of the crime, running another stop sign in the process. Ballanti said he felt angry about the accident, but was relieved that he did not receive any injuries.
“If you’re ever in a hit and run, pay as much attention to as many details as possible,” said Ballanti in an email. “The more information you can give to the cops to identify the other driver, the better.”
Beckley suggests that student drivers should always come to a complete stop at stop signs and obey the speed limit. He also recommends students should clear their mind of whatever problems they have when operating their vehicle.
For students that are walking to and from class, Beckley said [they] should stop texting and walking at the same time because it can be hazardous.
