Montco Driver Who Killed Man While Driving 70 In 25 MPH Zone Captured: DA

WHITEMARSH TOWNSHIP, PA — A teenage driver who killed a man last fall in Montgomery County after recklessly speeding has been captured, authorities announced.

Shakim Elias Mendez, 18, of Flourtown, has been charged with homicide by vehicle and related counts in the death of 35-year-old Artemio De La Rosa Martinez of Norristown.

Mendez was going 70 miles an hour in a 25 mile an hour zone at the time of the crash, police said.

The incident occurred on Nov. 8, 2024 at around 3:20 p.m. on the 6000 block of West Valley Green Road in Whitemarsh Township.

Mendez was driving his Chevy Malibu, which has fake license plates, southbound when he struck Martinez, who was doing landscaping work on the side of the road with his brother, authorities said.

Police said Mendez had his seat reclined at a 49 degree angle at the time of the crash, leaving only seven inches of visible space out of the front windshield, the DA's office found.

Martinez was hit with such force that he was propelled 168 feet through the air and his shoes were found stuck in a tree 36 feet in the air, according to police.

After the crash, Mendez abandoned his Malibu and fled on foot, leaving his driver's license inside the car, the DA said. He ran east on West Valley Green until he was picked up by his brother, but the pair were pulled over and caught by Philadelphia Police at 5:35 p.m.

At the time, he was only charged with fleeing police and released on $50,000 bail. Additional charges of homicide by vehicle were issued on Dec. 2, and a warrant for his arrest was issued.

U.S. Marshals took him into custody without incident on Feb. 20 at a home in Wilmington, Delaware.

He is currently in the process of being extradited back from Delaware to Montgomery County. A preliminary hearing will be scheduled when he arrives.