Suspect in fatal hit-and-run crash turns himself in to Milwaukee police

MILWAUKEE -- Juan Mata-Chavez has turned himself in to Milwaukee police on Thursday, Feb. 8, officials say.

Juan Mata-Chavez

Mata-Chavez, 27, of Milwaukee faces one count of knowingly operating a motor vehicle while revoked, causing the death of another, and one count of hit-and-run resulting in death.

The crash happened Sunday, Feb. 4 near 15th and Lincoln, and it was caught on camera. The medical examiner's report from this incident indicates the pickup truck was being driven "at freeway speeds on a city street," with snow and slush on the street. The posted speed limit in the area is 30 miles-per-hour.

Monica Hernandez, 43, died as a result of injuries suffered in the crash. Her son, 13, was hurt. They were coming back from church at around 11 a.m. when it happened. A GoFundMe.com account has been established to help with funeral expenses for Monica Hernandez.

Monica Hernandez and her son

A witness told investigators he was inside the nearby La Conoa restaurant when he heard the loud crash outside. He said he saw a Toyota had struck his vehicle outside the restaurant, and there was a blue Ram pickup truck in the middle of the intersection. He said he saw three people -- two males and a female, get out of the truck through the driver's side door. He said he yelled at them not to leave. He said one of the males, wearing a red shirt, pointed a handgun at him -- so he ran to his own car to get his own gun. He said he then realized all three people had left the scene.

"He told them 'please don't leave. Why are you leaving? Face the consequences.' They pulled a gun out and put it in his face," Nattalie Lopez, witness said.

Suspects in hit-and-run near 15th and Lincoln

Investigators checked DOT records, which revealed the owner of the truck. That truck was reported stolen to Milwaukee police on Feb. 4 -- about a half-hour after the crash happened. The owner reported it was taken in an armed robbery -- but during questioning, the owner admitted that was false, and her brother, Juan Mata-Chavez, had her truck. She said he called her and told her to report the truck had been taken in an armed robbery. She identified her truck as being involved in the crash after she was shown surveillance video.