Last Updated on April 26, 2018 by CCAR Staff
A San Bernardino man who killed a 23-year-old woman in a hit-and-run collision on Christmas night in Jurupa Valley pleaded guilty Thursday to gross vehicular manslaughter.
Jude Joseph Vargas, 30, admitted the felony count, as well as a sentence-enhancing allegation of fleeing the scene of a crime, under a plea agreement with the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office.
Superior Court Judge David Gunn is expected to certify the terms of the plea deal during a sentencing hearing on May 30 at the Riverside Hall of Justice.
Vargas is being held in lieu of $250,000 bail at the Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside.
Vargas killed Hillary Hicks of Ontario on the westbound 60 Freeway, just west of Mission Boulevard. The victim was struck from behind about 11:30 p.m. on Dec. 25.
Hicks was in her 2004 Honda CRV when Vargas plowed into the rear of her compact SUV in his 2008 Toyota Sienna, causing the young woman to lose control of her vehicle, said California Highway Patrol Officer Dan Olivas.
“The Honda veered to the right, traveled off the right-side edge of the roadway, where it overturned down an embankment and collided with a tree,” Olivas said. “The victim was ejected from the vehicle as a result of the collision.”
Hicks was taken to Riverside Community Hospital, where she died about 2:50 a.m. on Dec. 26.
Vargas’ Toyota was found near the crash, abandoned on the side of the road, Olivas said.
Vargas went to the Chino Police Department hours later and reported that his van had been stolen. However, investigators didn’t buy his story and he was arrested on the spot, according to the CHP.
According to San Bernardino County Superior Court records, Vargas has prior convictions for creating a public disturbance and petty theft.
