Photo: Jessica Acunia
Jessica Acunia, 23, was heading west on Olive Ave early Sunday morning when she struck a man with the white, four-door sedan she was driving. She sped off, leaving him seriously injured.
Fresno Police responded to the scene at 1:44 AM, shortly after the collision. When they arrived, 36-year old John Rodriguez was lying on Olive Avenue near Broadway, turning blue.
Emergency responders transported the unresponsive man to Community Regional Medical Center. Among other injuries, he has a fractured skull, fractured vertebrae, and is in critical condition.
Before Rodriguez was struck, he was walking on Olive Avenue. Witness accounts state he and a male walking by engaged in an altercation. The male suspect shoved Rodriguez, propelling him onto the road and into oncoming traffic, i.e. Acunia’s car.
Police tracked the vehicle to the 1700 block of South Channing. After police confiscated the Chrysler 300, Acunia made contact with police via her lawyer.
Arrangements were made for Acunia to turn herself in, which she did on 12/03. She was booked into the Fresno County Jail at 7:15 PM that day and posted bail by 1:30 AM on 12/04.
She faces a felony charge for the hit and run and a misdemeanor charge for not having a court ordered ignition interlock device installed in the vehicle.
Investigation into this case continues, as the passengers that were in the vehicle when they struck Rodriguez remain unidentified and wanted.
UPDATE
Early Sunday morning, 36-year old Johnny Rodriguez was struck by a vehicle after being shoved into the road in front of Bobby Salazar’s in Fresno’s Tower District.
The vehicle sped off, leaving him seriously injured on the road.
The driver of said vehicle, 23 year-old Jessica Acunia, has since turned herself. Now, the man who shoved Johnny into the road has also turned himself in.
Accompanied by his attorney, 24-year old Chase Popps reported to the Fresno Police Department on 12/04. He was booked into Fresno County jail on charges of battery causing serious bodily injury. He was released from jail on 12/05 at 02:46AM when he posted bond on his $25,000 bail.
Acunia awaits court out of custody as she also posted bond a few hours after turning herself in Monday night.
