Road Rage Chase Preceded Fatal Hit-And-Run Last Week

A man arrested and charged in connection with a hit-and-run incident last week that killed an elderly man in Richmond allegedly chased another vehicle as a road rage reprisal beforehand, police said. After charges were announced on Wednesday against Obed Obeso, 32, of Richmond, police provided further details about the events leading up to him allegedly smashing into 77-year-old Anthony Tonti’s vehicle.

Before that collision, which was reported at about noon Friday, Obeso was involved in a road rage incident, police said. Police said Obeso was chasing another car -- not Tonti’s vehicle -- from a nearby highway onto city streets before he failed to slow down at a stop sign at Solano Avenue and Ventura Street.

Obeso then allegedly crashed his Ford Ranger pickup truck into Tonti’s Ford Fusion and fled the scene on foot. Tonti, a Walnut Creek resident, was transported to a hospital for treatment of life-threatening injuries but died shortly afterward, police said. Obeso was arrested on Monday morning in Richmond with the public’s assistance after police released a description of him. Police said Obeso confessed to the crime at that time.

Obeso was booked at the Martinez Detention Facility, where he is being held on $150,000 bail. He’s facing charges of vehicular manslaughter and hit-and-run resulting in death or serious injuries. Police lauded the efforts of the department’s traffic unit that led to the arrest and alleged confession. Police added that they “hope that this arrest brings some closure to Tonti’s family.”

By Bay City News

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