OAKLAND — Three-and-a-half years after a mother and son were killed in a hit-and-run crash that shocked the community and led to calls for stoplights at the intersection, the driver has accepted a 12-year prison term in a deal with Alameda County prosecutors.
Rasenoch Allen, 30, of Oakland, pleaded no contest to two counts of vehicular manslaughter in exchange for prosecutors dropping hit-and-run charges against him, court records show. The plea agreement includes a stipulation that prosecutors won’t file more charges against Allen in the event that the third crash victim — who was permanently injured and remains in long term care — should die from his injuries.
The crash occurred around 7:30 p.m. on April 14, 2019. Alma Soraya Vázquez, 30, her 6-year-old son, Ángel García Vázquez, and her then-19-year-old brother were crossing the street at 26th Avenue and Foothill Boulevard when a Mercedes Benz drove through the intersection, striking all three family members. Ángel’s father, Anselmo Garcia, arrived at the intersection as paramedics were struggling to safe the three victims.
“In that moment I ran to my kid, I ran to my wife, I ran to my brother. I didn’t know what to do,” Garcia told ABC7 at the time, adding that he told Vázquez to, “be strong for the rest of my kids.”
Allen, who was out on bail in a Humboldt County robbery case, sped away from the crash, unaware that another driver who witnessed the collision was following him. The driver later reported to police that Allen dropped off three passengers before abandoning the Mercedes in another part of Oakland. The three passengers later identified Allen as the driver, court records show.
The aftermath of the crash saw a huge outpouring of grief, including a memorial rally where community members advocated for more protections for pedestrians at the intersection. International Community School, where Ángel attended kindergarten, raised nearly $60,000 to support the family.
Allen was charged with murder in 2016, but pleaded no contest to accessory after the fact. That case stemmed from a fatal shooting where Allen’s co-defendant shot and killed the victim during a robbery, according to court records. Allen served a three-year prison term as part of that deal.
In 2018, Allen was identified as a suspect in a Garberville armed attempted robbery involving four perpetrators who were all charged with conspiracy. Allen posted $50,000 bail after his arrest, police said at the time. He was due back in court May 21, nearly exactly a month after the crash.
Source: www.mercurynews.com