Milwaukee man charged in fatal hit-and-run crash
MILWAUKEE- A 32-year-old Milwaukee man has been charged in a fatal hit-and-run accident from Milwaukee's south side.
According to the criminal complaint, Luis O. Perez was driving near S. 16th St. and W. Mitchell Ave. on May 26 when he struck Gilbert L. Vazquez and continued driving.
Perez allegedly told his girlfriend that Vazquez jumped out in front of his car and he couldn't avoid him, according to the complaint. Perez then said he "got scared and that he left the scene and that he later saw on the news that the guy had died while in the hospital."
He also mentioned that he thought about fleeing the state and burning the vehicle, but decided to turn himself in after authorities asked him to come in.
According to a person hanging out with Vazquez at the time of the accident, Vazquez had been searching for the person that broke windows on Vazquez's car that evening. At one point in their search, Vazquez started walking near S. 16th St. and W. Mitchell Ave. when he was struck by a car allegedly driven by Perez.
Vazquez was hospitalized and later pronounced dead from multiple blunt force trauma.
Perez faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted of the Class D felony.
Meanwhile, Milwaukee police are still looking for the striking vehicle from this crash.
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