Man arrested by CHP after fatal accident

Courtesy of California Highway Patrol

Pablo Tabarez.

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A 67-year-old San Jose man has been arrested and charged with felony hit-and-run and vehicular manslaughter in the fatal accident that killed a pedestrian on Avenue 21 just east of Avenue 20 1/2, according to The California Highway Patrol.

Public information officer Greg Rodriguez said officers were able to locate the driver, Pablo Ovando Tabarez, after a weeks-long investigation and CHP officers saw and stopped the damaged vehicle in Gilroy.

Rodriguez said Tabarez was driving a 2018 Mitsubishi Fuso box truck from the Bay Area to Oakhurst the early morning of October 22 when he struck and killed Angel Gutierrez, 50 of Madera. Due to evidence found at the scene, Gutierrez is believed to have been crossing the rural road or standing in the lane when he was struck and thrown off the roadway, Rodriguez said, where the body was later seen and reported by a passing motorist. It is undetermined if the victim might have survived the impact had he been treated shortly after being struck and not left to die along the roadway.

Authorities are still searching for the next of kin of the victim, Angel Gutierrez, who may have been homeless.

Anyone with information on the hometown or whereabouts of the family of Angel Gutierrez should call 674-7774.

Tabarez was arrested and taken to the Madera County jail where he was released after posting $100,000 bail.