O.C. cab driver to be charged with hit and run death of a pedestrian

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 15HF006

Date: January 30, 2015

TAXI CAB DRIVER TO BE ARRAIGNED FOR HIT-AND-RUN CRASH THAT KILLED PEDESTRIAN IN NEWPORT BEACH

NEWPORT BEACH – A taxi cab driver is scheduled to be arraigned Monday for crashing into a pedestrian, resulting in the victim’s death, and driving away from the scene. Ronald Aviles, 56, San Clemente, is charged with one felony count of hit and run with permanent injury or death. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of four years in state prison. Aviles is out of custody on $50,000 bail and is scheduled to be arraigned Monday, Feb. 2, 2015, at 8:30 a.m. in Department H-1, Harbor Justice Center, Newport Beach.

At approximately 3:00 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2015, Aviles is accused of driving his taxi van southbound on East Coast Highway. He is accused of crashing into 23-year-old Travis Marton, as the victim was crossing East Coast Highway westbound at the intersection of Newport Coast Drive in Newport Beach. Aviles is accused of unlawfully failing to stop his vehicle and failing to render assistance to the injured victim. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Newport Beach Police Department, who investigated this case, found Marton’s body lying in the intersection. The Laguna Beach Police Department located Aviles driving in his taxi van in Laguna Beach, approximately five miles from where the victim’s body was found, and arrested the defendant.

At the time of the arrest, Aviles is accused of driving the taxi with damage consistent with the collision, including a smashed windshield, dents on the hood, dented bumper, and a missing driver’s-side mirror. Aviles is accused of causing the crash that scattered debris at the collision site consistent with the damaged and missing vehicle parts.

Deputy District Attorney Stephen Cornwell of the Homicide Unit is prosecuting this case.

###

TONY RACKAUCKAS, District Attorney

Susan Kang Schroeder, Chief of Staff
Office: 714-347-8408
Cell: 714-292-2718