Steven Michael Monzon Died After Being Dropped Off Along Rural Road During Uber Ride
VENTURA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA (July 13, 2026) – A 30-year-old man identified as Steven Monzon has tragically died in a Ventura County hit-and-run car accident by Santa Rosa Road and Gerry Road.
Ventura County officials are saying that the incident took place late in the evening on June 7. Steven Monzon was in the middle of an Uber ride when he was dropped off along a dark rural road.
Authorities believe that he was trying to flag down a vehicle so that he could leave the area before he was hit by a car. That driver did not remain at the scene and is currently being sought by police.
A witness later called 911 after seeing a person was down in the roadway. Unfortunately, Steven Monzon died due to the severe nature of his injuries.
Uber has not provided any comment when pressed by one news outlet. A full investigation into the deadly accident remains ongoing.
Anyone with more information should contact the California Highway Patrol.
Uber transports millions of people every day and has become more widespread each year. This has led to a predictable rise in accidents.
According to one study in the National Bureau of Economic Research, “The arrival of ridehailing is associated with an increase of approximately 3% in the number of fatalities and fatal accidents, for both vehicle occupants and pedestrians. The effects persist when controlling for proxies for smartphone adoption patterns.”
Driver Liability for Ventura County Car Accidents
Drivers in California have a legal obligation to operate their vehicle at a safe speed to avoid hitting other vehicles and pedestrians. According to California Vehicle Code 22350, “No person shall drive a vehicle upon a highway at a speed greater than is reasonable or prudent having due regard for weather, visibility, the traffic on, and the surface and width of, the highway, and in no event at a speed which endangers the safety of persons or property.” There are many steps that drivers should take to avoid hitting pedestrians.
- Slow Down: Drivers should slow down during periods of reduced visibility. Traveling the speed limit during poor lighting conditions can still be considered dangerous.
- Scanning: Drivers should always be scanning the road ahead of them for pedestrians and other potential hazards.
- Horn: Drivers should use their horns when necessary to alert pedestrians of their presence.
- Maintenance: Drivers should ensure that their vehicles are periodically inspected and maintained.
If a driver does not slow down in time to avoid hitting any pedestrian in the roadway, this could be used to demonstrate that that driver acted negligently. Even if a pedestrian was in the middle of the road, this does not remove a driver’s duty of care to use caution under the circumstances. If visibility is so reduced in a certain area so that drivers are not able to see that far ahead of them, this should lead them to reduce their speed considerably.
Uber Liability for Ventura County Car Accidents
Depending on the unique facts of any case, Uber could potentially be held liable for an accident where they dropped off a passenger in an unsafe area before that person was hit by a vehicle. Consider, for example, Ingham v. Luxor Cab Co. (2001) 93 Cal.App.4th 1045. In that case, a taxi cab driver dropped off a visibly disabled passenger before reaching the required destination. The victim was subsequently injured after attempting to complete the trip on foot. The Court of Appeal made a number of holdings in that case.
- A carrier that transports a person for a fee owes a duty of care to their passenger to transport them to the requested destination.
- A carrier’s duty of care to their passenger does not necessarily end if that passenger exits the vehicle. It continues until the passenger has been dropped off in a location that is reasonably safe.
- A carrier can be liable for an accident if they terminate a trip and drop off a passenger in an area that creates a reasonably foreseeable risk of harm.
In short, Uber can be held liable for accidents that involve a passenger being hit by a third-party vehicle. It is dangerous and unreasonable for any Uber driver to drop off a person along the freeway or along the rural road that is totally dark. The rideshare company has actually faced a lawsuit before where a passenger was killed after being hit by a third-party vehicle following the dangerous drop-off. Family members of any person killed in such an accident are able to seek some measure of accountability through a wrongful death claim.
Investigating Ventura County Uber Accidents
We at Carrazco Law extend our deepest condolences to the family of Steven Monzon. Any person who may have more information about what happened should reach out to the CHP. This was a preventable tragedy that should’ve never taken place. Uber should do the right thing and be transparent about what happened. It is deeply concerning that this is not the first time an accident like this has taken place.
Do you need more information about an accident involving an Uber in Ventura County? Our team of pedestrian safety advocates and legal researchers is here to assist you. We are committed to providing all people throughout California the information and resources that they are entitled to under the law. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into the unique facts of any case, we are here to serve your needs. You can contact us anytime at (800) 541-3244.
