The motorist accused of driving impaired when he struck and killed a Gilroy man at a Morgan Hill intersection Easter Sunday was arraigned on a murder charge at the South County Courthouse April 8, according to Santa Clara County Supervising Deputy District Attorney Steve Lowney.
Results of the hearing for Edgar Benitez Martinez, a Morgan Hill resident, were not yet available as of the afternoon of April 8. Authorities arrested Martinez moments after the accident when he tried to flee the scene, according to police.
The Santa Clara County Coroner’s Office identified the victim as 37-year-old Gilroy resident Alberto Sanchez. He was pronounced dead at the scene, according to authorities.
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’s vehicle, driven by Martinez, 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. After contacting him, police suspected Martinez was driving under the influence of alcohol.
While at the scene of the collision, officers learned the suspect’s vehicle was traveling westbound on Tennant Avenue from U.S. 101 when it drifted to the right shoulder of the roadway near the intersection of Juan Hernandez Drive.
At that tie, Martinez’ vehicle collided into the rear of the victim’s vehicle which was parked on the shoulder, 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, Martinez continued traveling westbound on Tennant Avenue, then northbound on Juan Hernandez Drive where he was later detained.
The victim’s juvenile passenger was transported to a local trauma center by paramedics and later released to a family member, authorities said.
Martinez was booked at Santa Clara County Jail, according to police.
Anyone who witnessed this collision can contact MHPD Sgt. Bill Norman at (408) 779-2101 or the anonymous tip line at (408) 947-7867.
