Thread: CA-Suspect arrested in girl's hit-run death in Salinas

Suspect arrested in girl's hit-run death in Salinas
BY SUNITA VIJAYAN • svijayan@thecalifornian.com • April 28, 2009

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The uncle of a 4-year-old girl has been arrested on suspicion of running her over and subsequently killing her with his sports-utility vehicle, the California Highway Patrol said.



CHP Officer Brian Wiest said Efren Fletes, 35, was taken into custody Friday at the CHP office at 960 E. Blanco Road in Salinas after being questioned about the hit-and-run death.

"After a lengthy investigation ... Efren Fletes was questioned and subsequently apprehended," Wiest said.

The CHP said at the time of the incident, which occurred at 7:50 p.m. on Wednesday, Esmeralda Fletes was playing with her 6-year-old cousin in the driveway of a home on the 26000 block of Encinal Road, off Old Stage Road just south of Salinas. They said the girls were playing about 90 feet away from the roadway when a dark-colored vehicle veered suddenly into the 4-year-old's pathway.

Esmeralda was flown to Santa Clara Medical Center to receive treatment for her injuries. She was pronounced dead on Thursday afternoon.

Wiest said an anonymous caller led officers to Fletes, brother of Esmeralda's father, on Friday afternoon. The CHP said Fletes is suspected of running over his niece with a 2001 Chevrolet Tahoe.

Wiest declined to reveal further details about the case, including reasons to why Fletes had veered off the road, citing an ongoing investigation. Officers are also investigating whether he was driving while intoxicated when the incident occurred.

Fletes is being held without bail at Monterey County jail on suspicion of felony hit-and-run. A jail spokesman said Fletes also is being held on an immigration hold.

http://www.thecalifornian.com/article/2 ... 0/1002/rss

Nice, they don't even stop for their own families! Are these the family values they instill?