MAITLAND, FLa. – A 23-year-old man who is facing charges in connection with a fatal hit-and-run, told Maitland police he was “in shock and panicked,” when asked why he did not remain on scene after the incident, according to an affidavit for the defendant’s arrest warrant.
Keven Jose Alvarado-Caquias is charged with the first degree felony of a hit and run/failing to stop at a crash involving a death.
The person who died in the crash was Connie Hayes, an elderly woman who was legally deaf and lived in an apartment complex across the street, according to Maitland police.
If proven, the charge against Alvarado-Caquias carries a mandatory minimum sentence of four years imprisonment.
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The affidavit alleged that shortly before 11 p.m. on the night of Dec. 13, Hayes could be seen on surveillance video leaving a 7-Eleven and walking toward the intersection of U.S. Highway 17-92 and Sybelia Parkway.
The video showed Hayes beginning to cross the crosswalk, despite the pedestrian signal indicating “Do Not Walk,” according to the affidavit.
Investigators said the video showed a car nearly striking Hayes, before a white sedan hits her and continues traveling northbound.
Additional surveillance video captured the white sedan—an Acura—pulling into a nearby parking lot.
“The driver (defendant) exited the vehicle, walked to the front of the car, and then began walking back toward the intersection,” the affidavit stated. “While doing so, a marked Maitland patrol vehicle passed the individual, at which point the subject turned around and returned to the white sedan.”
Maitland police employed the help of the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office helicopter, which conducted a “flyover” above an address associated with the Acura.
During the flyover, the affidavit said, authorities spotted the vehicle in the backyard and “they noticed damage to the windshield and hood, which is consistent with a collision involving a person.”
That same day, investigators said Alvarado-Caquias spoke to them about the night in question.
He said he was leaving work and driving down the road when he approached an intersection, where he had the green light, according to the affidavit.
The affidavit said that he told police after hitting the woman, he “panicked and pulled over into the next parking lot.”
“He said he exited his vehicle and checked the damage,” the affidavit stated. “Afterwards, he walked back to the scene of the incident and observed the Victim and believed them to be deceased. When asked if he attempted to help the Victim, he stated no.”
He had told his parents that he hit a deer on the way home from work, according to the affidavit.
In a written sworn statement, investigators said, Alvarado-Caquias wrote that he kept thinking he should have turned around.
“However, he was in shock and panicked,” the affidavit said. “He added, if this were to happen again, he would do the right thing and call police.”
Alvarado-Caquias made his first appearance before a judge Tuesday. The judge set his bond at $15,000 and ordered that Alvarado-Caquias must forfeit his passport and must not have any contact with any witnesses.