Las Cruces driver faces felony charge in hit & run that killed man crossing the street

LAS CRUCES, New Mexico -- Police on Wednesday leveled a felony charge against a 34-year-old driver for a hit-and-run accident that killed a man crossing the street near a Family Dollar store in October.

Daniel R. Aranda of Las Cruces was charged with a third-degree felony count of knowingly leaving the scene of an accident that caused great bodily harm or death. Aranda was also charged with a misdemeanor for failing to give information or render aid.

Authorities said Aranda was driving a pickup truck that was one of two vehicles to hit Jose Alberto Carillo of Las Cruces while he was crossing the street on Oct. 25 in the 1400 block of north Solano Drive at Juniper. Carrillo later died from his injuries at Mountainview Regional Medical Center.

"Traffic investigators learned that Aranda briefly stopped his pickup after it struck Carrillo but did not exit the vehicle or render aid," police spokesman Dan Trujillo said Wednesday. "Aranda then drove to a friend’s home... where he left the pickup and called is girlfriend to pick him up."

Police also identified the other driver whose car struck Carillo and left the accident scene, but Trujillo said she would not face any charges.

"The driver of that vehicle, a 78-year-old woman, called police that evening and indicated she did not stop because she believed her vehicle struck a box on the roadway," Trujillo explained.