Luis Garcia
FRESNO – Charges have been filed against a man believed to be responsible for the hit-and-run death of a woman crossing the street in a wheelchair.
The Fresno County District Attorney’s Office filed criminal charges on Tuesday against 51-year-old Luis Garcia of Fresno, relating to the death of 80-year-old Amelia Whisnand on Thursday, November 19.
The victim was crossing Stanislaus Street when the fatal hit-and-run occurred
Whisnand was in a motorized chair crossing Stanislaus Street near Fulton Street in a crosswalk when she was struck and killed by a van driven by Garcia, according to the DA’s office.
Garcia initially stopped, but then fled, failing to remain at the scene of the accident, according to the DA’s office.
Garcia was arrested when Fresno police saw the van parked at Fresno’s Manchester Center and recognized it. He is currently in custody at the Fresno County Jail.
The District Attorney’s Office charged Garcia with one felony count of vehicular manslaughter and one felony count of leaving the scene of an accident. He faces a maximum of 11 years in custody of convicted. Garcia will be arraigned on Wednesday.
