Fresno Police Officer Turns Brother In After Learning of Hit-and-Run on Asian Victim

The victim, identified as 33-year-old Kong Yang, was reportedly crossing Herndon Avenue near Millbrook on early Sunday morning when he was hit by a car driven by 22-year-old Cody Sanders, according to ABC30 News.

Police were only alerted by the tragic accident hours after it happened when a passerby discovered Yang’s body in the bushes. The man was reportedly 600 feet east of Millbrook when he was hit by Sanders’ White Nissan Versa.

“We don’t know what his alcohol level was but we do know he was in the roadway when he was struck in and not in a crosswalk. Which would generally make the primary collision factor pedestrian caused but still Cody Sanders has a responsibility to stop and he didn’t,” said Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer.

The case was reportedly solved when an officer heard about the accident and the specific details about the suspect’s car as well as the location where Yang was hit at a briefing on Sunday.

“After the briefing, the officer called his brother and asked him if he had been involved in a collision the night before. And his brother said he was driving home from work – he’s a security guard at Club Imperio and he was driving westbound in the number one lane and that he had hit something that he thought was either a dog or a sign,” dyer continued.

Sanders also reportedly went back to the scene to check things out, but did not find anything unusual, so he left. His brother, however, convinced him to do the right thing and talk to detectives. Sanders was arrested and is now facing one count of felony hit and run.

The victim and suspect were both at Club Imperio hours before the accident, and police are now investigating if they crossed paths. Officers are reportedly looking into the surveillance video at the club.

Despite what happened, the brothers remain on good terms.

Featured Image via Facebook / Sontaya Rose ABC30 Action News, YouTube / ABC30 Action News