Conviction for deadly hit-and-run near fairgrounds in Turlock

A 51-year-old man has agreed to a plea deal that will result in a 12-year prison sentence for driving recklessly and hitting two people, killing one of them, as they walked near the Stanislaus County Fairground in Turlock.

Rene Salas of Turlock appeared in court Thursday so that Stanislaus Superior Court Judge Nancy Ashley could schedule his trial. But attorneys informed the judge that Salas had agreed to the plea deal and will avoid trial.

Authorities say Salas was driving the car that struck Elizabeth Mancha, 46, and her boyfriend. Mancha died at the scene, and her boyfriend suffered severe injuries.

The woman and her boyfriend appeared to have been out for a leisurely walk around Summerfaire Park. The couple’s dog ran off but later was reunited with Mancha’s boyfriend.

The defendant on Thursday pleaded guilty to a felony charge of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence, according to Deputy District Attorney Anthony Colacito, who prosecuted the case.

In exchange for the guilty plea, prosecutors dropped a felony charge of hit-and-run resulting in death and a misdemeanor charge of driving with a suspended or revoked license for a prior conviction of driving under the influence.

Ashley scheduled the defendant to return to court Feb. 9 to be formally sentenced. The victim’s family and friends will have an opportunity at that hearing to speak in court about the impact of her death.

Salas has remained at the Stanislaus County Jail since he was arrested Jan. 22, 2014. The hit-and-run incident occurred around 10:30 p.m. Jan. 9, 2014, in the 1300 block of Joett Drive, just south of Fulkerth Road.

A Ford Mustang was on Joett heading toward Fulkerth near Tramway Place when it struck the pedestrians near the curb, according to Turlock police.

Officers and firefighters arrived at the scene and found the injured couple. Police said the vehicle’s driver ran from the area, leaving the Mustang behind, before police arrived.

Investigators later learned Salas was driving the Mustang that hit the pedestrians, and nobody else was in the car at the time. Salas was arrested 13 days after Mancha and her boyfriend were struck by the car.

This story was originally published November 21, 2015 at 2:45 PM with the headline "Conviction for deadly hit-and-run near fairgrounds in Turlock."