CHP looks for hit-and-run big rig that killed Seattle man on I-5 in Yolo County

The California Highway Patrol is searching for the driver of a big rig that fatally struck a Washington state man who was reportedly running in traffic on a Yolo County stretch of Interstate 5.

Motorists saw the pedestrian — later identified by the Yolo County Coroner’s Office as Ricardo Castellano Jr., 37, of Seattle — running in the lanes of traffic on the interstate at County Road 8 near Dunnigan, minutes before the 8:08 p.m collision, said officials at the CHP’s Woodland office. The tractor-trailer left the scene, officers said.

CHP officials, still investigating the crash, are now looking for an all-white tractor-trailer with a cattle guard on the front of the cab and possible crash damage to the left front headlight assembly. The big rig was last seen heading south on Interstate 5 from Dunnigan.

Woodland CHP officials are asking for the public’s help. Anyone who saw the crash or has information about the collision can call the California Highway Patrol’s Woodland office at 530-702-6250.

This story was originally published October 22, 2025 at 12:10 PM.

Darrell Smith

The Sacramento Bee

916-321-1040

Darrell Smith is a local reporter for The Sacramento Bee. He joined The Bee in 2006 and previously worked at newspapers in Palm Springs, Colorado Springs and Marysville. Smith was born and raised at Beale Air Force Base and lives in Elk Grove.