The local coroner’s office has identified the pedestrian killed Monday on Hillcrest Road in a suspected case of driving under the influence.
The victim was Halie Elliott, age 20, according to Capt. Eric Taylor with the San Benito County Coroner’s Office.
Authorities say she recently moved to Hollister from the Bay Area.
Hollister police are investigating the collision in which Elliott died after being struck by a vehicle. The driver fled the scene but was later located by police.
According to the police report:
At about 5:37 p.m. Dec. 23, a traffic collision was reported in the 1500 block of Hillcrest Road. First responders located a 20-year-old female lying in the roadway where she was pronounced deceased a short time later. Witnesses explained how the driver of the involved vehicle drove away after the crash.
During the investigation, several citizens approached police with information about the crash. The information led to the location of the involved van and the reported driver, Mathew Echevarria, 31, of Hollister.
Hollister Police officers contacted Echevarria and had him perform a series of field sobriety tests. Officers determined there was probable cause to believe he was driving the involved vehicle and may have been under the influence of drugs at the time of the crash.
Echevarria was later booked in the San Benito County jail on charges of hit and run from an injury collision, gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and driving under the influence of drugs causing injury. Echevarria may also face charges of driving with a suspended license.
The identity of the deceased woman will not be released at this time pending notification of relatives, at the request of the deceased person’s family.
Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the Hollister Police Department at (831) 636-4330. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call the WeTip hotline at 800-87-CRIME. Information provided to WeTip may qualify for a reward.
