Police arrest Foster City man following hit and run crash involving electric scooter in San Mateo

San Mateo, California – A quiet Sunday afternoon in San Mateo was abruptly interrupted when a collision along a busy neighborhood corridor left one man injured and police searching for a driver who had fled the scene.

At approximately 12:48 p.m. on March 15, 2026, San Mateo police officers responded to reports of a hit-and-run crash near the intersection of Monte Diablo Avenue and North San Mateo Drive. When officers arrived, they quickly deployed the department’s Drone as First Responder system, allowing them to assess the situation from above while emergency crews made their way to the scene.

The aerial view confirmed that the victim, who had been riding an electric scooter, had suffered a significant injury.

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According to authorities, the man sustained a four-inch laceration to his head. Investigators noted that he was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. Despite the seriousness of the collision, the driver involved did not stop and fled the area.

Officers immediately began canvassing nearby streets, looking for witnesses and security cameras that might reveal what happened. Their efforts soon paid off. Footage from neighborhood cameras provided investigators with a description of the vehicle and the direction it had traveled after the crash. More importantly, the video captured a license plate number.

That detail became the key to identifying the suspect vehicle. Police traced the plate to a registered owner from Foster City, though the individual was not located at the listed address. Automated license plate reader technology later confirmed that the vehicle had indeed been in San Mateo around the time of the incident.

Further investigation led officers to believe the suspect worked at San Francisco International Airport. An officer eventually located the vehicle parked in an employee lot at the airport. With assistance from the San Francisco Police Department’s Airport Bureau, authorities determined the suspect was on duty and were able to locate him.

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Police arrested 60-year-old Oscar Gomez Florez, a resident of Foster City, on suspicion of felony hit-and-run resulting in injury. He was transported to the San Mateo County Jail for booking.

Following the incident, police urged riders to wear helmets whenever using scooters or other wheeled devices, noting that protective gear can significantly reduce the severity of injuries in a crash.

Officials also reminded drivers of their legal obligation to stop after a collision, exchange information, and assist anyone who may be injured.