Man, wife, 3 kids allegedly leave scene after wreck that killed 80-year-old
An alleged hit-and-run in Gwinnett County ended with a man grabbing his family and running away, leaving an 80-year-old gravely injured in the other vehicle, Norcross police said.
Will Hodges, 80, died after the wreck Sunday morning at the intersection of South Peachtree Street and Jimmy Carter Boulevard, Channel 2 Action News reported.
Hodges, who owned Will’s Auto Machine Shop in Chamblee, had just left the auto repair store when a driver in an SUV allegedly T-boned him, Channel 2 reported.
Mark Hodges, Will’s son, told the news station he lost his best friend.
“I was with him every day. (I) talked to him every single day,” Mark Hodges said.
Police said Maurilio Montoya Pena, 44, ran a red light and hit Hodges’ driver’s-side door. Witnesses told police that he ran away along with his wife and three small children, leaving Hodges in his truck, Channel 2 reported.
“If just an accident happened, it’d be one thing,” Mark Hodges said. “I could get over that. But leaving him there to die, that’s when I get angry.”
Pena turned himself in Thursday for charges including vehicular homicide and driving without a valid driver’s license, Channel 2 reported. Police have placed an immigration hold on him.
Pena’s wife also faces charges for running away from the scene, Channel 2 reported. They’re both in the Gwinnett County jail.
About the Author
Zachary Hansen, a Georgia native, covers economic development and commercial real estate for the AJC. He's been with the newspaper since 2018 and enjoys diving into complex stories that affect people's lives.
