FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Fayetteville police arrested a suspect in connection to Wednesday’s fatal hit and run.
The Fayetteville Police Department said Tristen Fernandez, 26, of West Fork faces a charge of leaving the scene of an accident causing death or personal injury.
Police said Yessi Beatriz Rauda Paredes, 24, of Fayetteville was struck by a dark colored Chevrolet Equinox around 4:38 p.m. at North Golf Club Road and West Wedington Drive. When authorities arrived, she was found dead in a ditch.
Witnesses said the vehicle was traveling west when it left the road, mounted the sidewalk and hit the victim.
The damaged Chevy Equinox was later found at a nearby business. Blood and makeup were found on the hood.
Fernandez was identified by police as a suspect.
Witnesses said an unidentified woman picked up Fernandez and drove him away.
Police said officers received a tip Fernandez was on West Patrick Street. When they arrived at a residence there, officers spoke with the woman who picked up Fernandez and drove him away. According to police, she was told he’d hit a deer, and his vehicle was disabled.
Authorities then spoke with Fernandez, and the suspect said he’d thought he hit a deer. Fernandez said he saw “brown fur flying everywhere.” Police then took him into custody.
The investigation is ongoing.
