The driver who killed a man changing a flat tire on the freeway in Chula Vista was sentenced June 16 to the 368 days he has already served and was released from jail on three years probation.
The family of Raymart Martos, 21, who was killed Dec. 15, 2015, was present for the sentencing of Christopher Ramirez Reyes, 30, of Linda Vista.
A restitution hearing was set for July 12 to see if Reyes should pay any part of the funeral expenses.
Deputy District Attorney Christopher Chandler and the probation department urged Chula Vista Superior Court Judge Ana Espana to impose a 3-year state prison term.
Reyes’ attorney, Ryan Maguire-Fong, urged probation.
Martos died while changing a flat tire at 5:30 a.m. on the center divider of southbound Interstate 5 not far from the Mile of Cars Way in Chula Vista. He was from Imperial Beach.
It was still dark at the time and Maguire-Fong said his client didn’t know at first he had hurt anyone. Reyes called 911 quickly and gave his name, but a nervous passenger persuaded him to quickly leave the scene as Reyes’ Dodge car also had a flat tire.
Reyes pleaded guilty to hit and run with death on May 19. He was not charged with vehicular manslaughter.
Espana said she thought Reyes left the scene because of panic that was fueled by his passenger. She didn’t feel he was a sophisticated offender. She fined him $1,344 and ordered him to pay approximately $1,000 in probation costs.
Reyes’ girlfriend is seven months pregnant and the couple has an 11-year-old son.
Reyes works in construction.
The victim’s father, Raymond Martos, wrote a letter which the prosecutor read in court that said the family was “still in pain from what happened to my son.”
“You left him and ran. You’re responsible. (You) drove the car without registration…without insurance,” said Martos.
Reyes’ car was registered to a Chula Vista woman who told officers she sold the car a year earlier but did not remember his name. Reyes never changed the registration to reflect new ownership and didn’t have auto insurance.
The victim’s cousin, Richella, faced Reyes, who was wearing jail clothes while sitting in the jury box, and said “I don’t understand how you just left him.”
“One day I will forgive you. But you left him there. I didn’t recognize him in the coffin,” said Richella. “This hurts so much. You ran off. You have a child. You should be a role model for your child.”
Chandler said that when Reyes fled, he failed to render aid and went to Mexico where his parents and girlfriend lived.
“He was concerned about saving himself,” said Chandler. Reyes returned to the U.S. after talking to police.
The judge received 30 favorable letters of recommendation for Reyes. Espana denied a motion from his lawyer to reduce the offense to a misdemeanor. He was released from jail June 16.
