Suspect in fatal accident turns himself in

The San Luis man sought in connection to a fatal car crash 10 days ago turned himself in to Yuma County deputies Friday night.

"We knew where he (Freddy Rodriguez) was and were able to make telephone contact with him," said Yuma County Sheriff's Office spokesman Capt. Eben Bratcher. "We explained his options to him and he decided to come home."

Bratcher said deputies arrested Rodriguez, who allegedly fled to Mexico to avoid arrest fafter the June 21 accident, at approximately 11:20 p.m. Friday at the U.S. Port of Entry at San Luis, Ariz.

"We waited for him at the port and when he came across he was immediately arrested," Bratcher said.

Rodriguez, 23, was booked into the Yuma County jail on charges of second-degree homicide, endangerment and leaving the scene of a fatal collision. He made his initial appearance in Yuma Justice Court on Saturday afternoon.

Ordered held on a $500,000 bond, Rodriguez is scheduled to be arraigned on Tuesday in Somerton Justice Court at 11 a.m. before Judge Jorge Lazano, where he will learn what, if any, charges are filed against him.

Bratcher added the sheriff's office is also considering filing criminal charges against some individuals who are suspected of helping Rodriguez flee to Mexico and of hiding him.

"That is something we are potentially looking at now," Bratcher said.

On June 21, at approximately 5:13 a.m., the Yuma County Sheriff's Office received a report of a single vehicle collision in the vicinity of County 20-1/2 Street and approximately Avenue G-1/2.

The vehicle involved was a silver 2002 Jeep Cherokee. The vehicle had been traveling westbound along a dirt road when the driver, who is suspected to be Rodriguez, failed to negotiate a turn and left the roadway.

The vehicle came to rest, upside down, in a canal filled with approximately four feet of water. The vehicle had four occupants at the time of the accident.

The right front passenger, 27-year-old Diego Heredia Jr., of San Luis, Ariz. was pronounced dead at the scene.

The two passengers in the rear of the vehicle were treated by Rural/Metro personnel and released with no apparent injuries.

The cause of the incident is still under investigation. It appears, according to deputies, that alcohol may have been a factor .

---

James Gilbert can be reached at jgilbert@yumasun.com or 539-6854.