HOLLISTER
– A rare, fatal hit-and-run Sunday night left a Hollister family
devastated and wondering how someone could leave the scene of the
accident.
HOLLISTER – A rare, fatal hit-and-run Sunday night left a Hollister family devastated and wondering how someone could leave the scene of the accident.
Police are searching for the driver.
Rae Villegas, 31, who was born in Gilroy, was walking in the area of 1360 McCloskey Road about 9 p.m. when a silver pick-up truck, possibly a full-sized Chevrolet or GMC, struck the man from behind, killing him, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Villegas lived with his family off Lone Tree Road and liked to take long walks into town via McCloskey Road, said his mother, Rebecca Villegas.
”If he got in the way, that’s one thing, but to hit somebody and actually kill them and just take off…” she said. “I couldn’t even do that to an animal, how could you do that to a human being? I want to know who did this to my son. He had a family who loved him, no matter what.”
Villegas was single with no children and is survived by his mother, father, two brothers and one sister, his mother said. He had been battling a drug habit and some mental problems where he heard voices, but his mother believed he was getting better, although he refused to see a doctor, she said.
An accident of this nature is an uncommon occurrence in this area, said CHP Officer Terry Mayes.
”It’s highly unusual for Hollister,” Mayes said. ”It’s unusual even if the person had stayed at the scene – the problem is that they left.”
A small white sedan also was seen at the site and the CHP believe it could have been involved, Mayes said. Both vehicles were witnessed fleeing the scene by several people either living in the area or passing by at the time of the accident. The CHP believes both vehicles are somewhere in the Hollister area.
Villegas suffered severe head trauma, lacerations and blunt force trauma to his entire body, Mayes said.
The pick-up truck sustained moderate damage to its right side, with the headlights and possibly the front bumper or fender also impacted.
Anyone with information pertaining to the incident or concerning either vehicle may contact the Hollister/Gilroy California Highway Patrol at (408) 848-2324 or 1-866-502-5058.
