Man pleads guilty in hit-and-run crash that killed Kennewick father

A 24-year-old man pleaded guilty Monday to a Pasco hit-and-run crash that killed a Kennewick father.

Miguel A. Paniagua admitted during a court hearing to fleeing from police and recklessly driving the pickup truck that broadsided a car April 2, killing Jason E. Smith, 36.

Paniagua, a documented gang member, pleaded guilty in Franklin County Superior Court to four felonies, including vehicular homicide, first-degree unlawful possession of a gun and attempting to elude a pursuing police vehicle.

Prosecutors will ask a judge to sentence Paniagua to eight and 1/2 years in prison. A sentencing date has not yet been determined.

Deputy Prosecutor Frank Jenny told the Herald that prosecutors anticipated Paniagua would plead guilty.

“He was actually cooperative and admitted to most of what we would have had to prove at trial,” Jenny said.

Pasco police officer Jeffrey Cobb tried to stop the truck at Fifth Avenue and Sylvester Street for a traffic infraction. Paniagua took off and Cobb called off the chase after a few blocks for safety reasons.

Paniagua told a police detective he was driving an estimated 100 mph when he lost control of the truck, eventually torpedoing into the Honda at West Sylvester Street and Road 36.

Panigua, a convicted felon who is not allowed to carry guns, had been wanted since February for failing to pay fines in six court cases.

A .357-caliber gun was found inside the truck. Paniagua ran from the crash scene and was arrested by Pasco police two weeks later.

Smith, a Kennewick native with two daughters, graduated from Kamiakin High School in 1997. He was on the way to the post office after dropping his youngest daughter off when he was killed.

This story was originally published November 9, 2015 at 10:39 AM with the headline "Man pleads guilty in hit-and-run crash that killed Kennewick father."