Case # 14NF0063
Date: July 31, 2015
TRUCK DRIVER TO FACE TRIAL FOR KILLING BICYCLIST IN HIT-AND-RUN CRASH AFTER DRAGGING VICTIM THROUGH THE STREET
SANTA ANA, Calif. – A truck driver is scheduled to face trial Monday for killing a bicyclist in a hit-and-run crash after dragging the victim through the street. Filemon Reynaga, 49, Sylmar, is charged with one felony count of hit and run causing death and one misdemeanor count of vehicular manslaughter without gross negligence. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of four years in state prison. Opening statements are scheduled to begin Monday, Aug. 3, 2015, at 9:15 a.m. in Department C-40, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.
At approximately 5:35 a.m. on Oct. 30, 2013, Reynaga is accused of driving a semi-trailer truck with an attached trailer out of a driveway on Missile Way onto Orangethorpe Avenue in Anaheim. He is accused of hitting 19-year-old bicyclist Morales Rodriguez and dragging him, along with his bicycle, onto Orangethorpe Avenue and driving away from the scene without rendering aid to the victim or contacting police.
Morales 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.