Less than a week into a new decade and already a person has been killed on the streets of Manteca.
And according to police, who charged the person behind the wheel with vehicular manslaughter, it could have been prevented.
Robert “Bobby” James, 36, was arrested early Monday morning after he contacted police and informed them that he was the person responsible for the traffic collision on the 1100 block of S. Main Street that occurred at around 11:15 p.m. Sunday.
Andrew Martinez, 31, was reportedly riding his bicycle near Main Street where it intersects with Mission Ridge Drive when he was struck by a vehicle being driven by James. According to witnesses, James fled the scene immediately. Good Samaritans had attempted to move Martinez out of the street before police arrived on scene and attempts to resuscitate him proved unsuccessful.
“As with any accident of this nature, the investigation is ongoing and will take some time to complete thoroughly,” the Manteca Police Department said in a statement.
The incident was investigated by the Manteca Police Department’s major accident investigation team (M.A.I.T) and detectives who interviewed James before arresting him on a variety of charges.
James, who worked at Manteca Day School as an RSP paraprofessional, is currently being held at the San Joaquin County Jail on $1.2 million bail for charges of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, driving under the influence of alcohol and causing great bodily injury, and felony hit and run that resulted in death or injury.
He is scheduled to appear in Department M1 of the Manteca branch of the San Joaquin County Superior Court on Wednesday, Jan. 8, at 1:25 p.m.
Last week on New Year’s Eve on his public Facebook page James made a number of posts that discouraged people from climbing behind the wheel when they’ve been drinking – including one that gave out the number of AAA’s “tipsy tow” program and another that mentioned that the average cost of a DUI is $10,000 and the average of a cost of a funeral is $7,500 compared to the $12 it costs to take an Uber.
According to media reports, Martinez will be remembered as a father to a young girl, a loving son and a man who loved football.
While Sunday’s night’s fatal accident was the first of 2020, it came on the heels of the most dangerous year on record for Manteca’s streets with eight people dying in accidents that involved vehicles and dozens of others hurt.
To contact reporter Jason Campbell email jcampbell@mantecabulletin.com or call 209.249.3544.
