Columbia man charged in deadly hit-and-run crash
Madison Stuerman
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
A Columbia man has been charged after he is accused of hitting a person with his truck and leaving the scene early Sunday morning.
Jesus Ornelas-Rios, 20, is charged with driving while intoxicated, causing the death of another, leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death and a misdemeanor count of operating a motor vehicle carelessly.
Missouri State Highway Patrol said the crash happened at Route AB about a half mile east of Highway 63 around 5 a.m. Sunday.
Court documents state Troopers were called to the scene on Sunday and saw a silver 2020 Toyota Camry on the scene, along with a pedestrian who was hit and killed.
Troopers said Boone County Deputies found the suspect vehicle and identified Ornelas-Rios at an apartment about 15 minutes from the crash site. His preliminary breath test was reported as positive with .118% blood alcohol content, according to documents.
Investigators said Troopers learned from multiple witnesses inside the truck that hit the victim that Ornelas-Rios was allegedly driving westbound on Route AB in a red 2021 Ram 1500 when he hit the victim and the car.
Court documents state that the victim was standing outside the Toyota in the eastbound lanes facing south when Ornelas-Rios allegedly crossed the center line and hit the victim. While he did get out of his truck, he did leave the scene without calling 911, according to officials. Troopers said the truck at the apartment had damage to the passenger side consistent with the crash.
Ornelas-Rios allegedly admitted to investigators during an interview that his truck was hit by another truck, pushing him into the victim, according to documents. Troopers said the suspect said he knew someone was hurt and that he saw the victim’s shoe in the road.
Court documents state that Ornelas-Rios told Troopers he had six or seven beers before the crash when asked. At the time of his arrest at 8:54 a.m., investigators said his chemical breath test came back as positive with a blood alcohol content of .06%.
Ornelas-Rios is being held at the Boone County Jail without bond. Court documents state he could be a flight risk because he was born in Mexico and could leave the country.
Online jail records show he is also being held on an immigration detainer request by the federal government.