Authorities identified 89-year-old Joe Puga as the man who lost his life following a traffic collision Monday night in El Centro.
As per the initial information, the fatal hit-and-run crash took place at about 7:10 p.m. on Lotus Avenue and Ross Avenue. According to the reports, the driver of the involved vehicle fled north on Lotus Avenue.
Eyewitnesses informed the responders that the vehicle was a gray Nissan SUV, possibly a Rogue. On arrival, medical personnel rushed Joe Puga to El Centro Regional Medical Center where he later succumbed to his injuries.
On Tuesday morning at approximately 1:00 a.m., officers found the suspect vehicle in a rural area of the county. The driver, 25-year-old Joey Keck of El Centro, was also located. Keck was booked at Imperial County Jail on charges of Hit and Run Driving Resulting in Death or Serious Injury to Another Person. No other details are available.
The incident remains under active review.
May 18, 2022