A man has surrendered to the authorities in connection to the San Marcos hit-and-run that took place earlier this month, leaving one dead and four injured. Emmanuel Nicholas Martinez, 35, has been charged with Collision Involving Death and Intoxication Manslaughter with Vehicle, and his bond is set at $50,000 for each charge, as reported by CBS Austin.
The tragic incident, which police say happened at approximately 5:40 a.m. on July 14, involved a black SUV being struck by a white Toyota minivan as it was northbound on Interstate 35 towards Exit 208. The collision caused the SUV to collide with an exit sign and subsequently roll over. An off-duty state trooper observed the crash and noted that Martinez, the presumed minivan driver, stopped briefly only to later quickly flee in the vehicle, as detailed by KVUE.
The driver of the SUV was ejected from her seat in the crash and later pronounced dead at Ascension Seton Hays Hospital in Kyle. The remaining passengers in the vehicle sustained injuries that were not considered life-threatening. Martinez turned himself in ten days later, on July 24, which closes a brief but intense chapter of search and investigation by the San Marcos police.
Following the crash, the suspect's vehicle was found crashed into a dumpster, and Martinez is believed to have fled on foot to an apartment near FM 110. The series of events attracted heightened scrutiny from local law enforcement and community concerns over roadway safety. The surrender of Martinez may begin to offer some closure to those affected by the tragedy.
