[symple_googlemap title=”” location=”Fairford Avenue and Ratliffe Street, Norwalk, CA” height=”300″ zoom=”13″]
A man suspected of driving a “party bus” that struck and dragged a man more than 200 feet in Norwalk early Saturday morning, leaving him clinging to life, surrendered to authorities Tuesday.
Tommy Anthony Gutierrez, 37, of City Terrace, turned himself in about 9 a.m. at the sheriff’s Norwalk Station, and he was booked on suspicion of felony hit-and-run and driving on a suspended license, sheriff’s Detective Carl Anna said. Gutierrez was held on $50,000 bail, Anna said.
“On the advice of his attorney, he gave no statement,” Anna said.
The 26-year-old victim, identified by family members as Efren Virgen Jr. of Norwalk, was walking on Fairford Avenue south of Ratliffe Street about 2:30 a.m. Saturday when he was hit by the southbound vehicle. He remains hospitalized in critical condition. His family told CBS2 that he was in a coma and hooked up to life-support machines.
The vehicle that struck him was described as a black party bus, the type that “is rented out by groups for special events,” Anna said.
A witness said the bus, which had flashing interior neon lights and loud music playing inside, turned west onto Foster Road and out of view, the detective said.
The 1998 Ford E-450 bus, registered to a Pico Rivera resident, was being held at a tow yard. The owner was cooperating in the investigation, Anna said.
“The suspect was positively identified (Monday) by several people who were on the bus at the time of the incident, and by the owner of the bus,” Anna said. “These witnesses came forward due to the extensive media coverage in this case.”
— City News Service