A pedestrian was struck and killed by an impaired motorist who tried to flee the scene of the fatal accident in south Morgan Hill April 5, according to police.
About 6:50 p.m. April 5, Morgan Hill police responded to a traffic collision on Tennant Avenue near the intersection of Juan Hernandez Drive, according to a press release from MHPD.
During the initial investigation, officers learned an off-duty MHPD officer witnessed the collision and followed the suspect vehicle as it failed to stop at the scene of the accident, police said. The off-duty officer followed the suspect and detained him near his home in Morgan Hill. Police later determined the motorist was driving under the influence of alcohol.
While at the scene of the collision, officers learned the suspect vehicle was traveling westbound on Tennant Avenue from U.S. 101, police said.
As the suspect vehicle approached Juan Hernandez Drive, the vehicle drifted to the right shoulder of the roadway and collided into the rear of a parked vehicle, according to police. At the time of the impact, the driver of the parked vehicle was standing to the rear of his car while his juvenile passenger was inside the car. After the collision, the suspect driver continued traveling westbound on Tennant Avenue, then northbound on Juan Hernandez Drive where he was later detained.
Responding officers and EMS personnel rendered first aid to the pedestrian victim, but he was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.
The Santa Clara County Coroner’s Office identified the deceased victim as Alberto Sanchez, 37 of Gilroy.
The victim’s juvenile passenger was transported to a local trauma center by paramedics and later released to a family member, authorities said.
The driver of the suspect vehicle was under the influence of alcohol and arrested on suspicion of DUI, police said. The suspect, Edgar Benitez Martinez of Morgan Hill, was booked at Santa Clara County Jail.
Anyone who witnessed this collision can contact MHPD Sgt. Bill Norman at (408) 779-2101 or the anonymous tip line at (408) 947-7867.
