Pedro Chavez-Rodriguez ID’d As Hit-And-Run Driver In Christmas Day Crash That Killed Teen

GRAND ISLAND, NE. (THECOUNT) — In the early hours of Christmas morning, a hit-and-run crash resulted in the death of a 19-year-old after Pedro Chavez-Rodriguez, the driver of the second vehicle involved, fled the scene. The collision occurred around 3:00 a.m. on December 25 at the intersection of South Blaine Street and Phoenix Avenue in Grand Island, Nebraska.

Following the incident, police found a license plate from Chavez-Rodriguez’s vehicle at the scene, which initiated an investigation leading to his identification. By 9:30 a.m., authorities tracked Chavez-Rodriguez down at his home. He admitted to being the owner and driver of the vehicle involved but claimed he left because he believed the other car continued northbound without further incident.

Upon further investigation, it was discovered that Chavez-Rodriguez was driving with only an international license, and he lacked the necessary driving privileges in the U.S. He was subsequently arrested on charges of driving without a valid operator’s license and for leaving the scene of a crash where a fatality occurred.

Based on the available information, it’s unclear if Pedro Chavez-Rodriguez was in the U.S. illegally although he presented an international driver’s license but lacked valid driving privileges in the U.S. Further details on his legal status would require additional investigation or official statements which were not provided at the time of this writing.

Grand Island is a city in central Nebraska. The sleek Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer traces the area’s early history. In restored Burlington Station, Tri-City Model Railroad Association exhibits a sprawling model of mid-20th-century Grand Island. Southwest of the city, Crane Trust Nature & Visitor Center offers trails, a butterfly garden and blinds for viewing migrating sandhill cranes along the Platte River.

DEVELOPING::