Driver admits hitting pedestrian, leaving him to die in Pasco crosswalk

A Kennewick man admitted Tuesday to killing a Pasco pedestrian in a violent crash last year.

Daniel Gonzalez-Salaz, 43, pleaded guilty in Franklin County Superior Court to vehicular homicide by disregarding the safety of others and a hit-and-run crash that led to the man’s death.

Gonzalez-Salaz slammed into a man who was crossing Clark Avenue about 9 p.m. on Aug. 29, 2025. He then drove off, leaving Lorenzo Ayohua-Ramos, 42, dying in the street, court documents said.

Evidence at the scene showed Gonzalez-Salaz didn’t slow down or try to swerve before he hit Ayohua-Ramos.

Gonzalez-Salaz had no prior convictions, so the crimes carried a standard prison term of 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 years, said Deputy Prosecutor Erek Puccio.

Prosecutors and defense attorneys recommended the maximum end of the range in exchange for his guilty plea.

Puccio said he spoke with a family member about the proposed resolution, and they agreed with it. But no family members spoke at Tuesday’s sentencing.

Gonzalez-Salaz also didn’t speak before Judge Jackie Shea-Brown ordered him to serve 4 1/2 years.

Deadly Pasco crash

Security camera footage showed Gonzalez-Salaz driving a light-colored sedan west on Clark Avenue as Ayohua-Ramos was crossing the four-lane street at Sixth Avenue in the crosswalk, court documents said.

Gonzalez-Salaz hit him and continued on, while bystanders stepped in to help Ayohua-Ramos and called 911. But he died at the scene.

Detectives used other security camera footage to track the car, and when it turned toward the cable bridge, police got a picture of the license plate registered to Gonzalez-Salaz.

Investigators later found the car was taken to a repair shop to fix a broken windshield. Police obtained a search warrant and found the car inside with repairs underway.

This story was originally published April 28, 2026 at 2:12 PM.