Case # 14NF0063
Date: August 6, 2015
TRUCK DRIVER CONVICTED OF KILLING BICYCLIST IN HIT-AND-RUN CRASH AFTER DRAGGING VICTIM THROUGH THE STREET
SANTA ANA, Calif. – A truck driver was convicted today of killing a bicyclist in a hit-and-run crash after dragging the victim through the street. Filemon Reynaga, 49, Sylmar, was found guilty by a jury of one felony count of hit and run causing death and one misdemeanor count of vehicular manslaughter without gross negligence. He faces a maximum sentence of four years in state prison at his sentencing Sept. 25, 2015, at 9:00 a.m. in Department C-40, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.
At approximately 5:35 a.m. on Oct. 30, 2013, Reynaga drove a semi-trailer truck with an attached trailer out of a driveway on Missile Way onto Orangethorpe Avenue in Anaheim. He drove through a stop sign and made a right turn when he struck 19-year-old bicyclist Manuel Rodriguez and dragged him, along with his bicycle, onto Orangethorpe Avenue. Reynaga then got out of his truck, walked over to the victim, got back inside his truck and drove away from the scene without rendering aid to the victim or contacting police.
Rodriguez was subsequently struck by a second vehicle, but the driver in that crash stopped at the scene and cooperated with the Anaheim Police Department (APD), who investigated this case. Rodriguez died as a result of multiple blunt trauma injuries in the two collisions.
APD arrested Reynaga on Jan. 8, 2014, after further investigation.
Deputy District Attorney Stephen Cornwell of the Homicide Unit is prosecuting this case.