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SALT LAKE CITY — A Salt Lake man now faces criminal charges tied to a fatal auto-pedestrian crash last month.
Alvaro Miguel Chilel-Chilel, 25, was charged Thursday in 3rd District Court with leaving the scene of an accident involving death and obstruction of justice, third-degree felonies. A no-bail warrant was issued for Chilel-Chilel's arrest. Chilel-Chilel was also charged with two infractions: not having a valid license and not having a vehicle registration.
On Oct. 13, about 8:30 p.m., Vanessa Mae David, 44, was hit and killed near 200 S. Redwood Road. Her body was found in the shoulder of the road, according to charging documents. Witnesses told investigators that a Honda Civic had passed another vehicle at a high rate of speed when it struck David who was crossing the road, and then drove off.
After obtaining the Honda's license plate number two days later, detectives learned that the vehicle had been reported as stolen approximately one hour after the crash occurred, according to charging documents.
Upon further investigation, police learned that the man listed as the registered owner had sold the Honda to Chilel-Chilel eight months earlier, but because Chilel-Chilel "did not have a passport" and "could not get the title changed into his name," the title remained in the original owner's name, the charges state.
When detectives questioned Chilel-Chilel on Oct. 16, he claimed he had parked the Honda on the street on Oct. 13 and it was stolen.
On Oct. 17, the Honda was found abandoned in a church parking lot where witnesses say it had been sitting for four days. Detectives found the car had damage consistent with an auto-pedestrian crash, but did not have any signs of being broken into, the charges state.
Investigators also used cellphone data to trace where Chilel-Chilel was that night. Once that data was collected, investigators believed they had enough evidence to screen criminal charges with prosecutors.
Chilel-Chilel was also charged with DUI in August, according to court records. Neighbors further told police that he "was frequently drunk and destructive at the apartment complex where he resided at the time of the hit-and-run. (He) does not have a valid Utah ID card or driver's license and does not have a valid Guatemalan driver's license," the charges say.
Since speaking with police on Oct. 16, Chilel-Chilel "has failed to appear at work, failed to pick up his final paycheck from work, moved out of his residence, and has shut off his cellphone," according to investigators.
