Case # 15NF0575
Date: September 8, 2015
MAN CONVICTED AND SENTENCED FOR CAUSING CRASH THAT KILLED MOTORCYCLIST AND DRIVING AWAY FROM SCENE
SANTA ANA, Calif. – A man was convicted and sentenced today for causing a crash that killed a motorcyclist and driving away from the scene without rendering aid or assistance. Antonio Carranza, 74, Anaheim, pleaded guilty to one felony count of hit and run with death and one misdemeanor count of vehicular manslaughter without gross negligence. He was sentenced to one year in jail and three years formal probation.
At approximately 1:15 p.m. on Dec. 28, 2014, Carranza was driving westbound on Adele Street and approached a stop sign at the intersection of Anaheim Boulevard. Carranza attempted to make a left turn at the intersection as 41-year-old Fernando Velasquez rode his motorcycle southbound on Anaheim Boulevard. Carranza pulled forward through the turn and stopped as the victim swerved right to avoid colliding into the defendant’s vehicle. The victim lost control of his motorcycle and struck a parked car and was thrown off his motorcycle where he struck a tree and died at the scene. The defendant continued through the intersection and failed to render aid or assistance to the victim and drove away from the scene.
The Anaheim Police Department (APD), who investigated this case, identified the defendant’s vehicle which was captured on surveillance video from local businesses in the area and arrested him two days after the crash.
The victim’s family delivered impact statements to the court today pursuant to Marsy’s Law. The mother of the victim emotionally described to the court how she feels pain that she didn’t imagine was possible and talked about the last phone conversation she had with her son before he died and said in part, “The last thing I said to him was I love you and he said I love you so much more mom, you’re beautiful. I know I’m beautiful because I was beautiful to my son.”
The victim’s sister said in part, “We shared everything too, we took turns giving each other rides on that red tricycle you got with a little platform on the back so we could stand up behind one another, much like we did throughout life. The dreams and all the crazy experiences we had, and all the covering for each other too. You always had my back brother, you were someone I could totally count on.”
Deputy District Attorney Stephen Cornwell Homicide Unit prosecuted this case.