A 25-year-old Glendora resident was sentenced to prison time after pleading guilty today of striking and killing a bicyclist in West Covina and fleeing the scene.
Presley Rodriguez was sentenced to nine years in state prison after pleading guilty to one felony count of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and also admitted to a special allegation that she fled the scene of the crime, according to Sarah Ardalani of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
Rodriguez struck and killed a 44-year-old La Puente man October 26, 2015, prosecutors said.
Both the bicyclist and Rodriguez were northbound in the 1100 block South Valinda Avenue around 11:49 p.m. when Rodriguez struck the rider, identified as Jose Ruiz-Villanueva, West Covina Police said in a written statement. Ruiz-Villanueva was pronounced dead at the scene.
A West Covina police officer heard the crash and searched the area, finding the victim down in the street. Police found and detained Rodriguez nearby after she fled the scene, prosecutors said.
Rodriguez initially faced a possible maximum of 15 years in prison, prosecutors said.
