A 22-year-old Jamestown man is being investigated by state police for his alleged involvement in a fatal hit-and-run accident that claimed the life of a 17-year-old last month.
The Post-Journal is withholding the suspect's name until charges are levied against the individual.
On Oct. 10, Federico Flores, 17, originally of Oaxaca, Mexico, was allegedly hit near the intersection of Route 394 and School House Road in the town of Randolph. Flores was walking home from work at a local dairy farm at 1:30 a.m.
The suspect's attorney, Nathaniel Barone, confirmed that he is representing the individual in this matter.
"At this point I cannot confirm or deny that he was involved in the incident, but I can tell you that I am representing him and that he is being investigated for the matter," said Barone.
State police are alleging that the man struck Flores on his way back into Jamestown.
"We are alleging that he was westbound on state Route 394, coming from the village of Randolph, heading back to the Jamestown area taking Route 394, and he allegedly struck the pedestrian walking on the shoulder," said Investigator Joseph Smith.
"He stated he pulled over and he checked his vehicle for damage, and he didn't see anybody in the area, so he left the scene," Smith continued.
Flores' body was found at 8 a.m. Sunday by a passing motorist.
Evidence in the form of vehicle parts was recovered from the scene and led the police to locate the vehicle at a Jamestown collision shop the following day.
"The car was a 2000 Jeep, color blue, registered to his father," said Smith.
Police were able to confirm the make and model of the car from a large amount of small auto parts which were left at the scene.
"We alerted the local bodyshops that we were looking for a Jeep product of certain years, and the vehicle was brought in for repair," said Smith.
The vehicle was recovered on Oct. 11 at a Jamestown area body shop and the driver was identified and questioned in the matter.
"We spoke to him on the 11th, we interviewed him, we sent away some stuff for testing, review of the car, review of some other stuff, took care of a search warrant for the car, all that information was pending, and we just wrapped it up and submitted it to the Cattaraugus County District Attorney's office for them to handle it from here on in," said Smith. "Now there is a conflict of what we think how it happened and his difference, so we are submitting everything to the Cattaraugus County District Attorney's office for them to review. We just submitted the whole package and we will just let them do their job."
At this point in the investigation, no charges have been filed, according to Barone. The decision on whether to bring charges against him is up to Cattaraugus County District Attorney Lori P. Rieman.
"At this point, absolutely no charges have been filed," he said. "And the matter has in no way been presented to any grand jury for review. So at this point it is being investigated, or has been investigated, and from my understanding, is under review by the Cattaraugus County District Attorney's office.
''I have been in contact with the Cattaraugus County District Attorney as well as the state police regarding the matter, and it is my understanding that the District Attorney is currently reviewing the information that has been provided to her that was acquired during the investigation."
The district attorney was unavailable for comment.