Felon Formally Charged In Murrieta Woman's Death

MURRIETA, CA — A driver with a criminal history who is accused of striking and killing a 71-year-old Murrieta woman this week as she walked on the sidewalk along Clinton Keith Road was formally charged Friday with DUI gross vehicular manslaughter and fleeing the scene of a crime.

Rodney Wayne Phillips, 57, of Hemet is slated to make his initial court appearance at 1:30 p.m. Friday at the Southwest Justice Center. He is being held in lieu of $75,000 bail at the Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta.

Phillips allegedly plowed into Gloria Ann Henry just after 8 a.m. Wednesday as she walked on the north side of the busy roadway on the sidewalk, 400 feet east of Via Mariposa. She was pronounced dead at Wildomar's Inland Valley Medical Center less than an hour after the incident, according to the Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner's Bureau.

Instead of remaining at the scene, Phillips fled in his white full-sized pickup truck, according to the Murrieta Police Department.

When officers arrived at the crash site, they found Henry with "significant injuries," the agency reported.

Witnesses helped provide police with a description of the truck that hit her, and officers were able to quickly find the vehicle and Phillips about a half-mile from the crash scene at Neville Street and Clinton Keith Road. He was arrested without incident, police said.

Some crash details have been released.

"Through witness statements and physical evidence, officers learned that Phillips was traveling west on Clinton Keith Road in the number 3 lane, east of Via Mariposa," according to the Murrieta Police Department. Henry was walking west on the north sidewalk of Clinton Keith Road in the same area, the agency reported.

"Phillips’ truck drove onto the sidewalk and struck the pedestrian," police said. "Phillips is suspected to have been driving while under the influence ... ."

According to court records, Phillips has prior convictions for spousal abuse, receiving stolen property, violating a domestic violence restraining order, possession of controlled substances and domestic assault resulting in a traumatic condition.

He has served time in state prison, records showed.

Wednesday's crash forced a complete closure of all westbound lanes on Clinton Keith Road from Toulon Drive to California Oaks Road as police investigated for several hours. Neville Street was also closed between Clinton Keith and Via Segovia.

The investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information was asked to contact the police department at 951-304-2677.