FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) –A 70-year-old man was hit and killed Thursday by a driver who is accused of being drunk and driving away from the collision.
Family members say Ram Bhatia was out for his nightly walk near Friant Road and Copper River Road when a black BMW slammed into him at 6:24 pm.
In a Friday news conference, Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer said 25-year old Matthew Chenot has been arrested for the crime.
Dyer said when detectives arrived, they found a piece of weatherstripping at the crash site and that evidence helped them determine a BMW caused the crash.
At about the same time, 12 minutes after the collision was first reported, Fresno Police received a call from Chenot saying his black BMW sedan stolen from the Applebees at the corner of Fresno and Friant, about three miles away from the crash site. MORE
| Name: | CHENOT, MATTHEW HIRAM | PersonID: | 7094658 | BookingNo: | 1914148 | ||
| Sex: | MALE | DOB: | 02/15/1994 | Hair: | BROWN | Height: | 6′ 2” |
| Race: | HISPANIC | Age: | 25 | Eyes: | BRO | Weight: | 220 |
| A R R E S T Arrest Date: 02/21/2019 Book Date:02/22/2019 Arresting Agency: FRESNO PD Arrest Time:22:30 BookTime:01:17 Housing Location: NJ, 02, 0E AgencyCase:19012662-3 |
| C H A R G E S |
| Charges Description Bail AmountAuthority Case No.Level Court Bailout Sentence Date Sentence Days Release Date VC20001A HIT-RUN RESULT in DEATH INJ5,000.00 OPEN FelonyY VC23153A INTOXICATED DRIVER, CAUSING INJURY/DEATH TO OTHER THAN SELF 13,500.00 OPEN FelonyY VC23153BDRIVER WITH .08% ALCOHOL, CAUSING DEATH/INJURY13,500.00OPEN FelonyY PC191 5A GROSS VEH MANSLAUGHTER WHILE INTOXICATED 75,000.00 OPEN FelonyY |
