Man sentenced for hit-and-run death of 80-year-old woman in Downtown Fresno

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- It was sentencing day for the man who hit and killed an 80-year-old woman in a wheelchair last year.

Luis Garcia received six years.

The judge reminded him of his actions last November when the victim was dying in the street. Witnesses said Garcia stopped his van, got out, looked at her, and drove away.

The crash happened on Fulton and Stanislaus Streets in Downtown Fresno.

And Garcia was arrested the morning after at Manchester Center.

Amelia Whisnand died in her motorized wheelchair, and when detectives confronted Garcia about the deadly downtown crash he denied any involvement.

Friday in court, the judge reminded him about the lies he told.

"And he stated that he had not been involved in any type of accident the day prior," judge Alvin Harrell said. "Stating that the van had been parked at the warehouse at Fresno and E Streets from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m."

Garcia had no prior criminal past but the prosecutor fought for him to get the maximum punishment because of the circumstances.

"The fact that he left the scene and did nothing to help her," deputy district attorney Tim Donovan said. "If maybe not to save her life, at least maybe to comfort her in the last moments of her life."

When Garcia was interviewed, he claimed he didn't know what he had struck but the judge noted witnesses revealed the honest truth.

"The witness went on to state that Mr. Garcia exited the van and looked toward the victim and then left," Harrell said.

Garcia's attorney asked for his client receive rehabilitation and probation and said Garcia is remorseful and has some serious health concerns.