A Clinton man who has been identified as driving a vehicle involved in a fatal traffc collision that caused the death of a 31-year-old woman faces two felony charges.
Jesus Manuel Villegas, Jr., 21, has been charged in Washita County District Court with first degree manslaughter and leaving the scene of a fatality accident. The charges were filed on Sept. 30, according to court records.
The fatal accident occurred about 5 a.m., Sept. 25, on SH 44 approximately one-half mile south of Webb Street in Burns Flat.
The manslaughter charge accuses Villegas of driving a 2015 Dodge Challenger Coupe while unlawfully engaged in a misdemeanor at the time he was driving the vehicle by not possessing a valid driver’s license and causing a motor vehicle accident that caused the death of Danielle Rene Raya.
State Trooper Trent Cagle, who assisted with the investigation of the accident, filed a probable cause affdavit also on Sept. 30 that shows Raya was 31 at the time of the collision and that she was discovered deceased inside the wrecked Dodge Challenger.
In his investigation, Trooper Cagle also was able to determine that Villegas had borrowed the car from a friend. The trooper states in the affdavit the registered owner of the vehicle was a woman who reported her grandson possessed and drove the car.
The trooper further confirmed the grandson was not present in the Dodge during the fatal collision.
In the probable cause affdavit, it states that troopers recovered a plastic medical marijuana container from the vehicle’s contents which contained what appeared to be marijuana and meth. The items will be sent to the OSBI laboratory for analysis, it says.
The leaving the scene of a fatality accident count charges Villegas with failing to remain at the scene of the accident until he had given his correct name, address, and the registration number of the automobile that he was driving and showed his operators/chauffeurs license and security verification form to law enforcement offcers and/or rendered reasonable assistance to Raya.
The manslaughter charge is punishable by imprisonment for not less than four years.
The leaving the scene of a fatality accident charge is punishable by a fine of $1,000 to $10,000 or imprisonment for 1-10 years or by the fine and the imprisonment.
Washita County Sheriff Roger Reeve reported that a bench warrant has been issued for Villegas on the two felony charges and as of Monday he remained at large.