A man who pleaded no contest to murder charges for striking and killing two bicyclists in Chatsworth, including a pregnant woman, has been sentenced to 15 years to life in state prison.
Nelson Rodriguez, 60, of Chatsworth, pleaded no contest last month to two counts of murder in connection with the Jan. 4, 2022, deaths of Ana Hernandez, who was 37 years old and 29 weeks pregnant, and Matthew Zink, 58, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
Los Angeles police said a 2006 red Toyota Tacoma going westbound on Plummer Street struck the two bicyclists, then fled from the scene and was involved in several other collisions with vehicles and property and ultimately struck a wall on Knapp Street, west of De Soto Avenue.
The driver, identified as Rodriguez, was detained by witnesses until officers arrived at the scene, according to police.
Rodriguez has remained behind bars since his arrest by officers from the Los Angeles Police Department’s Valley Traffic Division.
He was sentenced Thursday in a San Fernando courtroom.