Suspect in Fatal Hit-and-Run in Commerce Turns Self In

Police were investigating whether the crash -- on a street popular with racers -- was connected to street racing

By Jason Kandel

| Sunday, Jul 29, 2012 | Updated 5:12 PM PDT

Sheriff's deputies investigate the hit-and-run crash on Thursday, July 26, 2012 that left 19-year-old Jose Mendoza dead on a street in Commerce known as a site for street racing.

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Street Racing Probed in Fatal Crash

A 19-year-old man was killed on a street in Commerce while a street race was underway. Toni Guinyard reports for the NBC4 News at Noon on Friday, July 27, 2012.

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Street Racing
Probed in Fatal Crash

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A man being sought in a hit-and-run crash while a possible street race was being held in Commerce on Thursday has turned himself in to police, officials said on Sunday.

Hugo Chavez walked into the lobby of the East Los Angeles Sheriff’s Station and surrendered to deputies on Saturday at 6:30 p.m.

Chavez, 21, of Bell, was being sought in connection with a collision in the 5200 block of Randolph Street that fatally wounded Jose Mendoza, 19, of Bell Gardens.

Deputies said Mendoza was killed possibly during a street race. It was not clear whether Chavez was involved or whether he was passing through the site, which is a popular area for street racing.