Redmond resident arrested in fatal drugged-driving hit-and-run pedestrian crash
(Update: Adding Vasquez's release on bail, background)
REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) – A 19-year-old Redmond resident was arrested on manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, felony hit-and-run and drugged driving charges Friday evening after striking and killing a 90-year-old Redmond man crossing Northwest Sixth Street, police said Saturday.
Redmond officers and Redmond Fire & Rescue medics responded shortly after 6 p.m. to the area of Northwest Sixth Street, north of Kingwood Avenue, for a reported crash involving a pedestrian, Lt. Jesse Petersen said.
Officers learned that Leroy Hall, 90, had been crossing Sixth Street, wearing dark clothing and not in a marked crosswalk, when he was struck by a maroon 2018 GMC Yukon, then also hit by a second vehicle, Petersen said. Hall died at the scene.
The driver of the SUV, later identified as Anthony Vasquez, 19, of Redmond, fled the area, while the driver of the other vehicle remained at the crash scene, the lieutenant said.
Less than 10 minutes later, around 6:15 p.m., officers found Vasquez and the SUV in the area of Southwest 15th Street and Metolius Avenue, Petersen said.
Vasquez was arrested and lodged at the Deschutes County Jail in Bend on charges of first-degree manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, felony hit-and-run, DUII-controlled substances, reckless driving and reckless endangering.
A jail officer confirmed that Vasquez posted 10 percent of his $330,000 bail and was released Saturday.
Court records show Vasquez, then 16, was arrested by Redmond police in late March of 2017 and indicted on a Class C felony charge of fleeing or attempting to elude police, as well as two misdemeanor counts of recklessly endangering and reckless driving,
In August of that year, records show, Vasquez entered no-contest pleas to the fleeing and recklessly endangering charges, and the reckless driving charge was dismissed. He was sentenced to a 1-year drivers license suspension and 18 months probation.
Petersen said the crash investigation is active and ongoing. He asked anyone with information that could help in the investigation to contact Redmond police through the county non-emergency dispatch number, 541-693-6911.
Sixth Street was closed for several hours due to the crash investigation, but reopened late Friday night.
Petersen thanked other agencies that assisted: the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, Bend Police Department, the county Medical Examiner’s Office and District Attorney’s Office, Redmond Fire & Rescue and Redmond Public Works.
"Redmond’s safety is our top priority, and we would like to remind people to do the following if they are involved in a motor vehicle accident involving a pedestrian: Stay at the scene of the accident, call 911 if somebody is hurt, call the non-emergency number (541-693-6911) if no one is hurt, get everyone in a safe location until police arrive and if possible render aide to anyone who is hurt," Petersen said in a news release.
"We also want to remind people to stay safe while walking near roadways at night," he added. "This includes wearing bright and reflective clothing, using a light generating device, using marked crosswalks when crossing roadways, and ensuring it is safe to cross before entering the roadway.
