Case # 15HF0006
Date: October 24, 2016
TAXI CAB DRIVER CONVICTED OF HIT-AND-RUN CRASH THAT KILLED PEDESTRIAN IN NEWPORT BEACH ON NEW YEAR’S DAY
SANTA ANA, Calif. – A taxi cab driver was convicted today of crashing into a pedestrian, resulting in the victim’s death, and driving away from the scene. Ronald Aviles, 58, San Clemente, was found guilty by a jury of one felony count of hit and run with permanent injury or death. He faces a maximum sentence of four years in state prison at his sentencing on Nov. 17, 2016, at 1:30 p.m. in Department C-50, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.
At approximately 3:00 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2015, Aviles was driving his taxi van southbound on East Coast Highway and crashed into 23-year-old Travis Marton as the victim was crossing westbound at the intersection of Newport Coast Drive in Newport Beach. Aviles unlawfully failed to stop his vehicle and failed to render assistance to the injured victim. Marton was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Newport Beach Police Department, who investigated this case, found Marton’s body lying in the intersection. The Laguna Beach Police Department located Aviles driving in his taxi van in Laguna Beach, approximately five miles from where the victim’s body was found, and arrested the defendant.
At the time of the arrest, Aviles was driving the taxi with damage consistent with the collision, including a smashed windshield, dents on the hood, a dented bumper, and a missing driver-side mirror. Scattered debris at the collision site was consistent with damaged and missing vehicle parts from the defendant’s taxi van.
Deputy District Attorney Stephen Cornwell is prosecuting this case.