Pharr man charged with manslaughter after hit-and-run

A Pharr man was charged with intoxication manslaughter early Sunday morning after troopers discovered blood on his vehicle following a hit-and-run accident that left a pedestrian dead, the Texas Department of Public Safety said.

Juan Antonio Perez, 40, was taken to the Hidalgo County Jail after his arrest.

According a DPS news release, the auto-pedestrian fatal crash occurred at about 4:25 a.m. Sunday at FM 907 and Wisconsin Road east of Edinburg. Based on the preliminary investigation, an unidentified man succumbed to his injuries after being struck by a vehicle on FM 907.

The suspect failed to stop and render aid to the unidentified man, and fled the scene, DPS said.

Troopers later located a silver GMC Sierra with damage and blood on the driver’s side at Canton Road and FM 907, the agency said, adding that the initial investigation determined the GMC Sierra was the suspect’s vehicle.

Furthermore, DPS said the driver of the GMC, later identified as Perez, showed signs of intoxication and performed a series of standardized field sobriety tests.

Perez was arrested and charged with intoxication manslaughter and taken to the county jail. DPS said the victim’s identity would be provided after he is identified and the next of kin has been notified.

Troopers continue to investigate the fatality, the agency said.