Taxi driver convicted in pedestrian’s hit-and-run death in Newport Beach
A taxi driver was convicted Monday in the hit-and-run death of a pedestrian in Newport Beach on New Year’s Day 2015.
A jury found Ronald Aviles, 58, of San Clemente guilty of felony hit-and-run with permanent injury or death, according to the Orange County district attorney’s office.
Aviles faces a maximum of four years in state prison at his sentencing Nov. 17 at Orange County Superior Court in Santa Ana.
Authorities said Aviles was driving his taxi south on East Coast Highway at about 3 a.m. when he crashed into Travis Marton, 23, of Valencia, who was crossing the intersection at Newport Coast Drive.
Aviles fled, according to the district attorney’s office.
Marton was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police found Aviles driving the damaged taxi about five miles away in Laguna Beach, and he was arrested, according to the district attorney’s office.
Twitter: @benbrazilpilot
