Accident – Death – Obituary News :
In a tragic incident that took place in West Palm Beach, a 69-year-old homeless man lost his life after being run over by a driver last year. The hit-and-run crash occurred on Aug. 26 just after 11:30 p.m. in a parking lot located at 1515 N Dixie Hwy. The driver, identified as Santos Rayes Villalba, then drove a blue Audi Q7 across the street to the gated parking lot of Herrera Luxury Motors, a car dealership located at 411 15th St.
Witness Account
A witness who was driving at the time of the incident told investigators that she saw Villalba exit his vehicle to open a closed gate to the property after hitting the homeless man. She stopped her vehicle behind Villalba’s car and yelled at him, informing him that he had just driven over a pedestrian. However, Villalba did not acknowledge her and instead proceeded to move his vehicle into the parking lot of Herrera Luxury Motors.
Police Investigation
Police arrived at the scene and interviewed Villalba about the incident. He admitted to officers that he drove the Audi from the parking lot to the dealership. When questioned about driving over a curb or any other object, he denied it but confessed to drinking two beers that evening. Officers noted an odor of alcohol on Villalba and observed bloodshot eyes. Villalba agreed to have his blood drawn and also consented to a DNA sample.
Footage Review
Investigators reviewed closed-circuit television footage of the crash, which showed Villalba getting into the Audi and driving over the victim. The footage indicated up and down movement of the Audi as if the vehicle had driven over something, leading investigators to believe Villalba was aware of the incident.
Victim’s Account
The victim, Roque Leon, recalled sleeping on the concrete or in a grassy area when he was run over by a vehicle. He suffered multiple rib fractures and lacerations that required reconstruction surgery. Tragically, Leon succumbed to his injuries on Sept. 19.
Legal Action
Villalba was arrested on charges of operating a vehicle without a driver’s license causing death and driving under the influence while causing a crash that resulted in death. He appeared in court where it was revealed that he works at Herrera Luxury Motors painting vehicles. Villalba is currently held at the main Palm Beach County jail on a $100,000 bond with conditions including house arrest monitoring, no contact with the victim’s family, and no driving.
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