Everett Man Charged in Fatal Chelsea Hit-and-Run

CHELSEA, MA – An Everett man who authorities say fled the country after a fatal hit-and-run in Chelsea last summer now faces charges in the crash. Jose Daniel Arevalo, 34, is charged with motor vehicle homicide while operating under the influence of alcohol and leaving the scene of an accident causing death.

Arevalo was arraigned Thursday in Suffolk Superior Court.

Prosecutors say on June 4, Arevalo allegedly hit 25-year-old Marco Salguero-Cruz in the Washington Street area of Chelsea and fled the scene. Salguero-Cruz later died of his injuries at the hospital.

According to investigators, cameras in the area allegedly show Arevalo's car, a silver Toyota Camry, leave the parking lot of a Washington Street bar at high speed and later as it fled the scene of the crash. Prior to the crash, both headlights on the car were working, and images taken after the crash show only one functioning, investigators said.

Investigators were able to recover and enhance previously-deleted footage from a private security camera in November and release images of the driver allegedly involved in the crash. Someone who knew Arevalo allegedly recognized him in the images and contacted police. Prosecutors said Arevalo was also identified through witness statements, social media and RMV records.

Video footage from inside the bar allegedly shows Arevalo drinking four beers and six shots in the hours leading up the crash, according to prosecutors.

It is believed Arevalo fled to El Salvador two days after the crash. Police in Texas arrested him upon his return to the United States.

A judge Thursday set bail at $150,000 and ordered Arevalo to submit to GPS monitoring, home confinement, and surrender his passport in the event he is released on bail. He has been in custody since his arrest in Texas Dec. 1.