DA to Charge Driver in Fatal Milpas Accident with Vehicular Manslaughter

The District Attorney’s Office has announced that 19-year-old Manuel Flores Jr., the man driving the truck that hit and killed 15-year-old Sergio Romero as he crossed Milpas Street on October 7, will be charged today with misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter along with two infractions, speeding and failing to yield to a pedestrian.

Romero was crossing Milpas in a crosswalk at Ortega Street at roughly 9:15 p.m. when he was struck by a flatbed truck heading southbound on Milpas. Medical personnel conducted CPR on the teen before he was taken to Cottage Hospital, but he later died. Authorities do not believe alcohol was a factor in the collision.

If found guilty of vehicular manslaughter, Flores could spend up to a year in County Jail, said Chief Deputy DA Gordon Auchincloss. Flores is already facing a civil lawsuit filed by Romero’s parents related to the incident, who allege he was negligent. He’ll be arraigned on the criminal charges January 5.

Romero was a 10th-grader at San Marcos High School, where he was a member of the wrestling team and an enthusiastic guitar player.