Charges Against City Employee on Fatal Hit and Run Filed by DA

• Defendant Will Answer to Three Felony Counts at Arraignment

BY BILL KOENEKER

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office filed charges against Robert S. Sanchez, an alleged hit and run driver, who is accused of fatally injuring a bicyclist. He is scheduled for arraignment on August 20.
“He is charged with one felony count of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated. He is also charged with a second felony count of driving under the influence and causing injury and a third felony county of leaving the scene of an accident,” said a spokesperson from the DAs office.
Sanchez, who has no previous convictions, is accused of hitting two bicyclists, who were riding on PCH last month while participating in an annual organized ride.
Both were injured, one fatally after Sanchez struck the pair. He allegedly fled the scene of the accident and was later picked up and taken into custody, according to authorities. He was released on $100,000 bail.
Sanchez, 30, who is employed by the City of Malibu as an administrative assistant, struck Rodrigo “Rod” Armas, 45, of Tehachapi, a Los Angeles County deputy probation officer, who died at the scene.
The second person hit was Armas’ son Christian, 14, who suffered leg injuries. Authorities allege Sanchez left the scene of the accident and continued along the Coast Highway for a short distance, before he abandoned his vehicle and hid in the brush. Sanchez was found about two hours later by deputies, who arrested him and took him into custody.