It won’t bring him back, but at least the family of Roberto Perez can find some satisfaction in the fact that the person suspected of killing Perez in a hit-and-run accident has been arrested. Consuelo D. Hernandez, 26, of 6000 block of Amherst Avenue in the Springfield area, was arrested on Tuesday, Jan. 25, at 2:30 p.m., at her residence and transported to the Mount Vernon District Station. She was being held in lieu of $100,000 bond and has been charged with felony hit and run. At this time it is not believed that speed was a factor in the crash, but it has not been determined if alcohol was a factor. The investigation continues.
“The case couldn’t have been solved without the diligent hard work of MPO Joe Deyak. Joe found the vehicle behind the El Tropico Restaurant. Had it not been for his hard work, we wouldn’t have been able to pursue the case further. I also want to expound on the diligence of Detective Wayne Weller, who worked from 12:15 a.m. until 4 p.m., when he was in my office after the arrest was made. It’s not like on Law & Order where an arrest is made in an hour; these guys work around the clock,” said Captain Mike Kline, commander Mount Vernon District Station.
Perez, a 60-year-old man from 7900 block of Janna Lee Avenue, was killed while crossing Richmond Highway near Janna Lee Avenue, on Monday, Jan. 24 at approximately 12:10 a.m. The red 1992 Toyota Tercel, which was later determined to be owned by Hernandez, was heading northbound on Richmond Highway when it struck Perez.
She fled the scene and Deyak found the vehicle a short time later in the parking lot of El Tropico at 7850 Richmond Highway. Perez was transported to Fairfax Inova Hospital where he was pronounced dead. He leaves behind a wife, three children and three grandchildren, all of which were under his care.
THIS IS THE THIRD fatal accident in Fairfax County for 2005. Another fatal accident occurred on Richmond Highway on Wednesday, Jan. 19, around 1:54 p.m., near the intersection of Richmond Highway and Gunston Road. The victim is an adult female. It is not clear what role the weather played in this accident.
Lilian Elizabeth Gallo-Cruz, a 31-year-old woman from the 6300 block of Gentele Court in Alexandria, was traveling northbound on Richmond Highway. She lost control of her 1996 Toyota Corolla, drove over the double yellow line, and crossed into the path of southbound traffic. She collided with a 2004 Ford F150 before a 2002 Toyota 4 Runner hit her broadside. Maria Rivas, a 50-year-old woman from the 2200 block of Dartmouth Drive in Alexandria, was a passenger in the Corolla. Rivas was transported to Potomac Hospital where she was pronounced dead. Gallo-Cruz was arrested for not having a valid operators’ license, possession of a fictitious license, and reckless driving. She is being held at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center without bond. Alcohol was not a factor in the crash.