Merced man turns himself in for fatal hit-and-run

A 43-year-old Merced man who is suspected of fatally striking a pedestrian and fleeing the scene has surrendered to police.

Eli Alvarez turned himself in to police late Monday and was booked into the Merced County jail in connection with the collision that killed Julian “Josh” Munoz on Saturday, Merced police said.

Eli Alvarez was being held in jail Tuesday on suspicion of felony manslaughter and driving with gross negligence, jail records show. Bond was set at $60,000.

Munoz, 25, was killed while walking along the 1400 block of East Santa Fe Drive. His family said they believe the Merced man had been out looking for work when he was struck less than a mile from his home

Merced police believe his body had been lying near the side of the road for several hours before it was discovered.

Munoz’s aunt, Mary Frances Green of Fresno, said Alvarez’s arrest will help the family feel a sense of closure.

“It’s still hard,” she said Tuesday. “It doesn’t bring him back, but I think it helps. It’s a start for healing.”

The family was in the process of making funeral arrangements.

Alvarez was believed to have been driving a silver 1992 Ford Thunderbird at the time of the collision. Police found the vehicle Tuesday in the 2100 block of Weston Way in Merced.

Alvarez has multiple previous misdemeanor offenses relating to a 2012 incident, including a DUI, driving on a suspended license and battery.

Police were unable to determine if drugs or alcohol were a factor in the crash that killed Munoz because Alvarez was arrested more than a day after the collision.

This story was originally published December 1, 2015 at 3:30 PM with the headline "Merced man turns himself in for fatal hit-and-run."