Police identify, charge man who fled fatal accident

By Larry Hartstein and Kristi E. Swartz

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Gwinnett County police have issued arrest warrants for one of the two people who fled a fatal head-on crash Saturday night, Officer Brian Kelly said Wednesday afternoon.

Police have charged Francisco Casarrubias-Melchor, 26, with homicide by vehicle and felony hit and run, Kelly said. It is unclear whether he was the driver of the car, Kelly said.

Melchor has not been arrested, Kelly said.

Officers are still looking for the other person who ran from the accident. They have not identified that person, Kelly said.

Howard Depass, 47, of Loganville was killed in the accident, which occurred at 8:10 p.m. on Loganville Highway near the intersection of The Esplanade Way, police said.

Depass' Toyota Corolla was hit head-on by a white 2001 Ford Expedition. The driver of the Expedition was trying to pass another car when the collision happened, police said.

Witnesses reported that two people got out of the Expedition, "stated they were uninjured and fled the scene on foot," police said in a statement. The Expedition had recently been reported stolen.

Police used tracking dogs but were unable to locate the pair. Anyone with information about the case is urged to call investigators at 770-338-7430, extension 5674.

Alexis Stevens contributed to this report.