Warrant issued for alleged hit and run suspect

Two pedestrians were injured during the incident on Oct. 20

WEST PIKELAND » Police issued a warrant for a person suspected of being the driver involved in a hitand-run incident that injured a mother and a daughter who were out walking their dog.

West Pikeland police had located the truck involved and said on Nov. 3 that they identified a person of interest. Police on Thursday announced the arrest warrant for Nicomedes Sotelo, 45, of Chester Springs. Police are looking for him. He is not yet in custody.

West Pikeland Sgt. Wayne O’Connell obtained home secu-

rity video surveillance that showed the area of the incident on Art School Road and the alleged striking vehicle traveling south at 4:37 p.m. on Oct. 20. The Chester County Detectives enhanced the footage to have pictures of the said truck with writing on the side. Police said they determined that the vehicle involved is owned by Forcine Concrete and Construction, where Sotelo works. Investigators discovered the vehicle in question has damage on the hood, to a headlight, below the grill and on the bumper, which police said is consistent with being involved in a motor vehicle crash. Additionally, investigators said they found what appeared to be dried blood on the vehicle.

Investigators noted that Sotelo’s coworkers mentioned that he became visibly upset when he learned the police were investigating the work trucks and Sotelo left the site to go home.

Chester County Detective Oscar Rosado talked with Sotelo during a recorded phone call in which Sotelo reportedly confessed that he did strike two pedestrians as they were walking on Art School Road on Oct. 20, according to the criminal report. Sotelo reportedly told Rosado that he panicked and he was afraid of the consequences, and he drove the truck back to his employment in Malvern where he left it. Police said the incident in West Pikeland Township occurred about 2.5 miles from Sotelo’s home.

According to the criminal report, Sotelo told investigators that the pedestrians were jogging on the roadway that he described as narrow and he said he did not have time to avoid the collision with them. Sotelo advised police that he was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs, according to the report.

Police said the mother was transported to Paoli Memorial Hospital with non-life threatening injuries and her teenage daughter suffered life threatening injuries. The teen was initially transported to Paoli and then she was airlifted to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

Sotelo is charged with recklessly endangering another person, aggravated assault by vehicle, driving while operator privilege is suspended and related charges, according to his online criminal report and police affidavit.

SUBMITTED PHOTO West Pikeland police say this pickup truck hit a woman and her daughter who were out walking their dog on Oct. 20. The driver fled the scene. Police now have issued a warrant for the suspected driver.