THE fatal hit-and-run incident on the evening of Dec. 15, 2024, has been determined to be a result of “pedestrian error,” according to the Department of Public Safety.
Assistant Chief of Police Simon Manacop said a request for an autopsy on the victim has also been made.
He said preliminary investigation indicated that the pedestrian was intoxicated, but a toxicology report was still pending.
The driver of the vehicle that fatally struck the pedestrian on Tun Thomas P. Sablan Road in San Antonio was identified as Veben Jose Hayag, 56. He has been arrested by DPS.
Manacop said “the operator of the vehicle was not intoxicated” at the time of the incident.
Hayag was charged with leaving the scene of an accident.
At a bail hearing on Friday, Superior Court Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho maintained the $10,000 cash bail against Hayag. Judge Camacho also noted that the person struck by the defendant died, and yet the complaint against him did not mention it.
After the hearing, Hayag was remanded to Corrections and ordered to return to court for a preliminary hearing on Dec. 30 at 10 a.m. and for an arraignment on Jan. 13 at 9 a.m.
According to the complaint against Hayag, he admitted driving a Toyota Highlander on the evening of Dec. 15, traveling southbound on Koblerville Road and crashing into a man along the westbound lane on Thomas P. Sablan Road.
Panicked and scared, Hayag told investigators he left the scene by traveling north, passing the Pacific Islands Club and making a right turn onto Afetnas Road, then onto As Gonno Road and Flame Tree Road to his Dandan residence.
Hayag admitted to tampering with the windshield, front bumper and hood of his vehicle. He also admitted to disposing of the front windshield.
Police identified the vehicle that struck the victim through CCTV footage from various establishments.
Police found the Toyota Highlander at Hayag’s residence, covered with a blue tarp, its front bumper, hood and windshield missing.
Police also interviewed a witness — a passenger — who confirmed that Hayag was driving the vehicle when the crash occurred.
The passenger said Hayag then drove away from the scene. The passenger added that he has not spoken to Hayag since the night of the incident.
DPS said Hayag’s vehicle has been seized for further investigation.
Although there has been an arrest, DPS said the case remains at a preliminary stage of investigation. Anyone who may have information about this incident is encouraged to call DPS Highway Patrol Division at (670) 664-9085, DPS headquarters at (670) 664-9000, or the Crime Stoppers Hotline at (670) 234-7272 if they wish to remain anonymous.
