SAN ANTONIO — A man has been arrested after allegedly hitting a truck from behind and knocking it off of a highway overpass killing the other driver, San Antonio police said.
The accident happened early Saturday morning on Steves Avenue at I-37 around 2:25 a.m. Witnesses told police they saw the car fall off the bridge, but no other vehicles appeared to be involved. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene. He was later identified as Ricardo Garcia, 61.
Later on Saturday, police got a call from a person who said they knew of a possible suspect in the case. They provided texts that showed another person saying that the suspect called them and said they'd gotten into a crash with a truck at that location.
Authorities went to the home of the suspect, John Reyes and found his red pontiac sedan with heavy damage to the front end. Police say that Reyes initially claimed that he struck a wall on his way to work a few days prior, then said that the crash happened on Friday. Police said Reyes agreed to let CSI process the car, and went to public safety headquarters to make a statement.
When he got there, police say he admitted in a recorded interview that the story he told was a lie, and he'd gotten into a crash on IH 10 at IH 37 S. He said he'd been drinking at a restaurant before the crash, but stopped because he had to drive home. police say he admitted that he hit a truck from behind, didn't see what happened, panicked and fled the scene without calling police or attempting to render aid.
Investigators say they collected paint chips and vehicle parts from the scene that matched the suspect's car.
Reyes was charged with failure to stop and render aid after a crash that resulted in death.
Another incident at the same location sent two firefighters to the hospital. Officials say, as a firetruck was leaving the scene of the previous accident, it ran over the some debris on the road. The debris flew out from under the tire and hit the two firefighters in the legs.
Their conditions are not known.
This is a developing story and further details will be added as they are received.
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