BRIDGETON — A Bridgeton man who pleaded guilty to fleeing the scene of a fatal hit-and-run accident in 2012 was sentenced to seven years in state prison Friday at the Cumberland County Courthouse.



Ismael Lopez-Bautista, 33, entered the courtroom Friday with his attorney, Terry Stomel, and a Spanish interpreter by his side.

According to officials, on Oct. 31, 2012, an intoxicated Lopez-Bautista was driving south on Delsea Drive when his vehicle left the roadway and struck Aurelio Paredez, 26, of Vineland at the intersection of Delsea Drive and Walnut Road, in Vineland.

He entered a guilty plea with the Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office on April 15 on the charge of vehicular homicide while intoxicated.

On Friday, Superior Court Judge Cristen D'Arrigo issued Lopez-Bautista the maximum sentence under the plea agreement — which included a seven-year cap on the sentence.

Lopez-Bautista faced up to 20 years in state prison. He had been charged with leaving the scene of a fatal crash, however the charge was ultimately dismissed.

Cumberland County Assistant Prosecutor Mike Ostrowski represented the state in the matter.

Before the sentence was given, Ostrowski gave a summary of what happened two years ago. He said in the early afternoon of Oct. 31, 2012, Lopez-Bautista went to a liquor store and purchased a bottle of tequila.

"And what (Aurelio Paredez) was doing — while Mr. Bautista was getting tanked up in the parking lot of the liquor store; he was working — he was mowing his grass," Ostrowski said. "And he didn't venture out into the road — he stayed on his grass."

According to Ostrowski, when Lopez-Bautista was ultimately apprehended by authorities, he registered .14 Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC).

Ostrowski noted just before Lopez-Bautista struck Paredez, he attempted to use his cellphone, and then veered off the road.

He added there is videotape evidence and numerous independent eyewitnesses that Mr. Bautista's car landed on top of the victim.

"And there it stayed — stayed long enough as Mr. Paredez was being crushed by this car," Ostrowski said.

Ostrowski continued and said after the collision, Lopez-Bautista got out of his car to look at the man he just hit.

"Then (Mr. Bautista), who at that point was obligated to stay there, gets back in his car, drives off Mr. Paredez' body and leaves the scene," Ostrowski said.

D'Arrigo jumped in.



"When I read the pre-sentence report, I was left with the impression that at the time of the initial accident, while there were egregious injuries, he (Paredez) was not yet dead," D'Arrigo said to Ostrowski.

Adding that he was "crushed between a lawn mower and a vehicle."

Ostrowski said Lopez-Bautista then fled the scene and drove to the area of North Delsea Drive and Landis Avenue, where he abandoned his vehicle at Espositos Maplewood III. Police found the abandoned vehicle, but ultimately apprehended Lopez-Bautista across the street.

Prior to the sentence being handed out, D'Arrigo said his main reason for ultimately giving Lopez-Bautista with the maximum sentence allowed, was his response immediately after the collision — something he considered especially "cruel."

Ostrowski emphasized how vital residents played in tracking Lopez-Bautista down. Some, he said, even got in there cars in order to catch a glimpse of his license plate.

"If it weren't for good police work and those wonderful concerned citizens, Mr. Bautista may never have been found," Ostrowski said.

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Contact staff writer Spencer Kent at 856-451-1000 ext. 516 or at skent@southjerseymedia.com.