Man injured in hit-and-run will survive, police say

A man who doctors feared would die after being struck by a hit-and-run driver weeks ago is in stable condition and improving, police said Monday.

Police said a relative has identified the victim as Fernando Chavez, a Mexican immigrant.

In the days after being hit by a car in Newport Beach, Chavez underwent at least one emergency surgery for serious head and internal injuries at Western Medical Center in Santa Ana. It now looks like he’ll survive, Sgt. Evan Sailor said.

Just before 2 a.m. Feb. 1, police said Chavez was working on a disabled vehicle at Hospital Road and Placentia Avenue. A car police suspect was a white SUV, possibly a 1996 to 2001 Ford Explorer or 1997 Mercury Mountaineer, hit Chavez, police said.

Police said the vehicle would likely have right, front-end damage.

Anyone who has information about the vehicle is asked to call Det. Bill Beverly at (949) 644-3747.

— Joseph Serna