Crime & Safety
Unlicensed Motorist Admits Hitting, Killing Jurupa Valley Woman
The unlicensed man who struck a 42-year-old woman and fled the scene pleaded guilty Tuesday to gross vehicular manslaughter and hit-and-run.
RIVERSIDE, CA — An unlicensed driver who struck and killed a 42-year-old Jurupa Valley woman then fled the scene pleaded guilty Tuesday to gross vehicular manslaughter and hit-and-run resulting in death and was immediately sentenced to five years in state prison.
Jose Manuel Acosta Aguilar, 26, of Jurupa Valley, admitted the felony offenses under a plea agreement with the Riverside County District Attorney's Office. In exchange for his admissions, prosecutors dropped sentence-enhancing allegations against Aguilar.
His co-defendant, 27-year-old Erika Marlene Guevara of Jurupa Valley, pleaded guilty to being an accessory after the fact. No charges were dismissed in her case.
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The pair's pleas were announced just as a preliminary hearing was set to begin before Superior Court Judge Raul Sahagun at the Riverside Hall of Justice. The judge certified the plea bargains, and after handing down the stipulated term of imprisonment for Aguilar, he sentenced Guevara to two years' felony probation.
Aguilar fatally struck Jamie Rena Pruitt on the afternoon of Sept. 20, 2023, in the 5000 block of Mission Boulevard, near Crestmore Road, according to county sheriff's investigators.
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Sheriff's Sgt. Ronald Smith said the victim was walking on the four-lane corridor when a white 2012 Toyota Corolla plowed into her, then raced away. It was unclear whether she was crossing the roadway or walking in one of the lanes at the time.
County fire paramedics arrived within 10 minutes and pronounced Pruitt dead at the scene.
Smith said it was confirmed the Toyota "sustained significant damage to the front passenger side hood, fender and windshield."
"Deputies conducted an extensive search for the suspect and the vehicle, but could not locate it," the sergeant said.
It was unclear where Aguilar was headed, or how fast he was driving. Both he and Guevara surrendered to deputies at the sheriff's Jurupa Valley station three days later.
Neither defendant had documented prior felony convictions in Riverside County.
—City News Service
