Pittsburg Police: Man arrested after fatal pedestrian collision had prior DUI conviction
PITTSBURG (BCN)— Police have identified a motorist who fatally struck a woman while fleeing officers in Pittsburg this morning as a 26-year-old man who was on probation for a prior driving under the influence conviction.
Aroldo Vela-Chavez, of Concord, was identified as the suspect arrested for allegedly hitting and killing a 65-year-old Pittsburg woman with his vehicle before he drove onto a golf course.
A Pittsburg police officer initially spotted him speeding in a vehicle at about 7:45 a.m. on eastbound West Leland Road, according to police.
When the officer attempted to stop the vehicle, the suspect accelerated and headed into heavy commute traffic, which police said led to the officer calling off the chase.
Less than a mile down the road from the officer, a pedestrian was struck walking along a sidewalk and the vehicle crashed through the fence at
Delta View Golf Course, according to police.
The victim of the collision, which occurred at West Leland and Golf Club roads, died at the scene.
Vela-Chavez allegedly continued onto the golf course before abandoning the vehicle and attempting to flee, police said.
He was later found and taken into custody on Dover Way, several blocks from the scene of the collision.
Pittsburg police Capt. Ron Raman said Vela-Chavez was driving on a suspended license for a prior DUI arrest. He was arrested today on suspicion of murder, vehicular manslaughter and evasion, Raman said.
Raman said whether drugs or alcohol were a factor in this incident has yet to be determined.