SAN ANTONIO — San Antonio Police say they have arrested an 18-year-old suspect in the deadly hit-and-run accident early Wednesday morning that killed a man and 14-year-old girl, and sent two other young victims to the hospital.
SAPD Spokesperson Doug Greene said those two other victims are in stable condition. Meanwhile, Cesar Gonzalez is being charged with two counts of failure to stop and render aid after Greene said he was traveling at a "very high rate of speed" and crashed into the victims' van as it was pulling out of a driveway on Poplar and 24th Street.
The teen victim in the crash has been identified 14-year-old Kristina Aileen Spohn.
Green called the incident a "very tragic case" but attributed the community for helping officers to make an arrest a day later.
"In this particular case we got a lot of cooperation from the people of San Antonio that helped us in this case," he said on Thursday afternoon.
Greene said Gonzalez was arrested around noon on Thursday without incident. It's unclear at this point whether alcohol was a factor, but Greene added the suspect may have been at a party earlier in the evening.
According to online court records, Gonzalez has a criminal history that includes drug possession charges and multiple DWI cases, most recently in July. He had bonded out of the latest charge from last summer.
"His life hasn't even gotten started yet—so here's another life that has been ruined and, in my own opinion, by poor decision-making," Greene said.
According to an affidavit, just minutes before the fiery crash, the 18-year-old was drinking beer and smoking marijuana with family and friends
According to police, Gonzalez’s sister texted him one minute before the crash, telling him not to get behind the wheel since he had been drinking.
The affidavit states Gonzalez's mom said her son told her he was involved in the wreck. He allegedly wanted her to tell investigators the truck was stolen.
She refused and actually called up police. Police also say before the crash, Gonzalez was shooting guns; an AR-15-type weapon was found in the truck.
On Thursday night, Last Chance Ministries Pastor Jimmy Robles held a vigil at the crash site.
"As many celebrate 2020," he said, "this family is going to have to prepare for the worst."
A family member named Juan also spoke at the vigil.
"Please just tell your family and your kids that you love them," he said.