Police Arrest Newark Man Who Allegedly Lied to Investigators About Fatal Crash

Police arrested a 45-year-old man on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter Friday in Hayward after spending nearly a month investigating a traffic crash in which a 65-year-old woman was struck and killed.

Elias Ladnay of Newark was arrested after he allegedly struck and killed 65-year-old Hayward resident Aurora Bermudez as she crossed the street on Dec. 28, according to police. At around 6:40 p.m., officers responded to the intersection of Hesperian Boulevard and Tahoe Avenue, after Bermudez, who was crossing Hesperian Boulevard, was reportedly struck by two vehicles, including a 1990s model four-door Toyota Corolla, police said.

One of the drivers, later identified as Ladnay, remained at the scene of the crash and spoke with investigators. Ladnay originally told investigators that the Toyota first struck the victim and that his vehicle was the second to strike her, according to police.

Additionally, he told investigators that the driver of the Toyota stopped briefly and a group of men wearing hooded sweatshirts stepped out of the vehicle before fleeing the scene. He also said that the crosswalk where Bermudez was crossing was not lit, because she didn’t push a button that activates lights on the crosswalk to alert drivers, according to Sgt. Jason Corsolini.

However after reviewing physical evidence, re-interviewing witnesses and reconstructing the crash scene, investigators concluded Ladnay lied about a second car being involved. Officers also pieced together surveillance footage from a camera in the area and discovered that the crosswalk lights were lit at the time Bermudez was crossing the street.

“He said the lights were off, but the video shows they were clearly on,” Sgt. Jason Corsolini said. Ladnay was not under the influence of any drugs or alcohol at the time of the crash. He has been booked into the Hayward Police Department Jail, according to police.

By Bay City News