Evidence

Driver denies role in fatal accident but is arrested when victim's torso is found in his car

  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  • Print.

When state police caught up with him a few hours later, Jose Antonio Santiago denied that he had any role in a fatal Pennsylvania hit-and-run accident on Sunday night.

However, officers didn’t believe him, in part because the severed torso of the accident victim was found on the passenger side of the 33-year-old’s car, reports the Express-Times.

Court records say Santiago told police “I didn’t hit anyone. I would have stopped. I’m not a bad person.”

The Lehigh County coroner ruled Wednesday that the death of Anna Lewis, 62, was an accident. Her body was severed at the scene of the Hanover Township crash by the force of the impact, authorities said, but they haven’t provided information about how part of Lewis’ body wound up in Santiago’s vehicle. A friend walking with Lewis, who also was injured, apparently helped with the investigation.

Charged in a felony fatal-accident case, Santiago is being held in lieu of $275,000 bail, an earlier Express-Times article reports.

Hat tip: Daily Mail

Give us feedback, share a story tip or update, or report an error.