BETHLEHEM, Pa. — A Bethlehem man has been charged in a July hit-and-run that left a woman with life-threatening injuries, police announced Tuesday.
Leroy Mendez, 37, was charged with aggravated assault, aggravated assault by vehicle while DUI and accidents involving death or personal injury, all felonies, police said.
The victim, a 24-year-old woman, remains in a coma in the intensive care unit of a local hospital, police said in a release.Bethlehem Police release
The victim, a 24-year-old woman, remains in a coma in the intensive care unit of a local hospital, police said in a release.
Mendez also filed an insurance claim containing false information regarding the incident and has been charged with insurance fraud, also a felony, police said.
He also was charged with two counts of driving under the influence of alcohol, recklessly endangering another person, accidents involving damage to attended vehicle/property, accidents involving damage to unattended vehicle/property, reckless driving, careless driving and running a stop sign.
Police and emergency personnel at 1:32 a.m. July 19 were dispatched to the unit block of East 4th Street in Bethlehem for a report of a pedestrian struck by a vehicle that fled the scene.
Responders found the 24-year-old female, who had been struck while standing next to a legally parked vehicle.
She sustained severe and life-threatening injuries, including a traumatic brain injury, multiple broken bones, a partial foot amputation, and other critical injuries, police said.
Investigation identifies car, driver
The investigation revealed that the victim was struck by a red 2016 Mazda CX-3 registered to Mendez. The impact also damaged two other legally parked vehicles, one of which was occupied at the time, police said.
Surveillance video, physical evidence and witness statements confirmed Mendez was the sole driver of the Mazda at the time of the crash.
When contacted by officers, Mendez admitted he had been drinking at local establishments to celebrate his birthday prior to operating his vehicle, according to the release.Bethlehem Police release
Later that morning, officers located the damaged Mazda inside a detached garage behind Mendez’s residence.
Vehicle parts recovered at the crash scene matched missing parts from the Mazda. Additional forensic testing found biological evidence on the vehicle to be consistent with evidence located on the victim.
When contacted by officers, Mendez admitted he had been drinking at local establishments to celebrate his birthday prior to operating his vehicle, according to the release.
He displayed signs of impairment, failed field sobriety testing, and later submitted to a blood test that yielded a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of 0.126 of a percent, police said.
State law considers a BAC of more than 0.08 of a percent is considered too drunk to drive.
During a subsequent interview, Mendez acknowledged he was intoxicated, admitted to driving the Mazda, and confessed to being involved in an accident, police said.
