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PLACERVILLE, CA, (PPD. Img Efrain Gonzales) – Efrain Gonzales, 20, was taken into custody Friday after video surveillance captured near the scene of the April 23 hit-and-run on Broadway in Placerville that claimed the life of Placerville area transient Richard Ameral helped police identify the vehicle and subsequently the driver witnesses saw speed away that night.
Police say Gonzales, a Placerville resident, confessed to being the driver of the vehicle — his Infiniti G35 — that struck 64-year-old Ameral. Gonzales is being held at the El Dorado County Jail on $225,000 bail. Charges include vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and being involved in a hit-and-run collision causing a death.
Witnesses of the hit-and-run described the suspect vehicle as a dark-colored sedan traveling eastbound on Broadway at about 8:30 p.m. when it hit Ameral. Ameral reportedly had been walking along the stretch of Broadway near Airport Road and one of the city’s larger homeless encampments.
Witnesses told investigators the driver initially stopped the vehicle but sped away, continuing to drive east, according to a press release from the Placerville Police Department.
Police say Ameral suffered major injuries and despite life-saving efforts on scene and at the local hospital he died.
Anyone with information that could aid in the ongoing investigation is asked to contact Det. Aaron Pratt at the Placerville Police Department at (530) 642-5210.