Suspect pleads not guilty in hit-and-run crash that killed his friend in Fresno County

FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) -- The man accused of causing a deadly Fresno County crash last week has pleaded not guilty to manslaughter.

Investigators say the driver, 26-year-old Gerardo Lopez Perez, ran away and left his friend and passenger, Ciriaco Santiago Gomez, to die.

The two were just east of Reedley when investigators say Gerardo was speeding and made an abrupt turn.

His Honda Accord flew into an orchard and flipped.

Ciriaco died at the scene.

Gerardo has pleaded not guilty to leaving the scene of an accident, manslaughter, and not having a driver's license.

"He knows what he did," said Rosa Gomez, Ciriaco's cousin.

Gomez says there's no question Gerardo killed Ciriaco.

"He was very loving. He was very outgoing. Smiling all the time," said Gomez.

Action News is now learning the pair were friends.

However, Rosa says what Gerardo did was just wrong.

She's angry he ran away.

"Honestly, I wouldn't really use the word 'friends' because I don't think I would be able to lose my friend in that situation," said Gomez.

Gerardo's attorney told the judge his client "panicked."

"The accident happened. My client panicked and did not know what to do and departed the scene," said the attorney.

Gerardo turned himself in to the Orange Cove Police Department the day following the crash.

His attorney called it "the right thing" to do and pleaded for Gerardo's release from jail.

The judge denied it and ordered Gerardo back to court in March.

Ciriaco's family is now left in the middle as the back-and-forth plays out.

"It's a really, really sad tragedy, and my family and I are trying to cope with the situation as best as we can," Gomez said.

Gomez said she spoke with the victim less than 30 minutes before the crash.

She's now helping to raise funds as the family tries to send his body to Mexico.

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