By Khalida Sarwari
Monterey County prosecutors today charged an 18-year-old man with misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter after he allegedly struck and killed a 14-year-old Everett Alvarez High School special education student earlier this month.
The charge against Hector Villegas stems from an incident on Dec. 13 when at about 7:45 a.m., he allegedly struck Angel Gonzalez in the parking lot of Everett Alvarez High School, located at 1900 Independence Blvd., said police Sgt. Dana Cornelison.
Gonzalez was crossing in a designated crosswalk after being dropped off by a bus when Villegas, who witnesses said was going anywhere from 10 to 20 mph, allegedly hit and then rolled over Gonzalez with his GMC SUV as he was entering the parking lot.
Cornelison said it appeared Villegas’ visibility was obscured and he did not see Gonzalez.
Gonzalez was taken by ambulance to Natividad Medical Center, where they determined his injuries, which included blunt force trauma, were far more serious than they initially appeared. He was flown to a hospital in San Jose and was pronounced dead around 5 p.m.
“It was just a whole bunch of bad circumstances that led to Mr. Gonzalez being struck and subsequently dying from his injuries,” said Cornelison.
Villegas remained at the scene and was questioned, but was not arrested, Cornelison said.
Villegas and Gonzalez both attended Everett Alvarez High School.
An arraignment date has not yet been set, said Monterey County prosecutor Terry Spitz.
