A man fatally struck by a vehicle in a hit-and-run in San Francisco on Christmas Eve has been identified by the medical examiner’s office as 59-year-old Eddy Mendez.
Mendez was killed when he was struck under a U.S. Highway 101 overpass near the intersection of Potrero Avenue and Cesar Chavez Street around 8:30 a.m. on Dec. 24.
Juan Martinez, 23, the alleged driver of the vehicle that struck Mendez, was arrested later that day and has been charged with felony vehicular manslaughter, felony hit-and-run, driving with a suspended license and driving while using a cellphone.
Martinez pleaded not guilty to the charges Friday and remains in custody on $1 million bail.
The medical examiner’s office had identified Mendez in the days after the death but did not release his name because they had not identified any family members and he had no known residence.
Family members are still being sought for Mendez, who was 5 feet 9 inches tall, weighed 172 pounds, had brown eyes, gray hair and a gray beard. He was carrying a blue backpack at the time of his death.
Anyone with information about his family is encouraged to call William Ahern with the medical examiner’s office at (415) 553-1798.
Dan McMenamin, Bay City News
Want more news, sent to your inbox every day? Then how about subscribing to our email newsletter? Here’s why we think you should. Come on, give it a try.
