LAGUNA HILLS : Felony Case Urged in Fatal ’90 Hit-Run

The California Highway Patrol on Tuesday recommended that felony hit-and-run charges be filed against a young woman who recently admitted fatally injuring a 78-year-old pedestrian last year.

A complaint against Cynthia Ann Gonzales, 18, of Laguna Hills was forwarded to the Orange County district attorney’s office, CHP Officer Ken Daily said. The district attorney will decide whether to file charges.

Kathryn Marie Stewart was struck and killed by a car on June 2, 1990, as she attempted to cross Santa Maria Avenue at Via Vista near a gate to her home in Leisure World, Daily said.

Witnesses told investigators that the woman was hit by a four-door white car carrying two teen-age girls. Nine days later, an anonymous caller told authorities that a car similar to one seen at the accident was parked in a driveway of a Laguna Hills house, Daily said.

Investigators went to the house and discovered that the car belonged to Gonzales, Daily said.

The car, a white Nissan Sentra, had its front bumper removed and fresh primer applied to the front, he said. Spots of blood were found on the car.

When questioned last year, Gonzales told investigators that she had driven a friend to Leisure World around 5 p.m. on June 2, Daily said. She said she then went to the Balboa Fun Zone and later discovered that the car had been dented while parked there, he said.

Gonzales also told authorities that she struck an opossum in the roadway, hence the blood spots, Daily said. Blood samples analyzed during forensic tests proved inconclusive, Daily said. However, the tire marks left at the scene match Gonzales’ car, he said.

No charges were filed at the time because of insufficient evidence. But, after reviewing taped interviews with Gonzales, CHP investigators and the district attorney’s office decided last month to reopen the investigation.

On Oct. 31, Gonzales “admitted to driving the hit-and-run car that struck” Stewart, officials said.

Gonzales told authorities that she drove to another location after the accident and battered her car to cover up the original damage and that she also washed off the blood, Daily said.

The district attorney’s office is treating Gonzales as a juvenile because she was 17 at the time of the accident.