A 23-year-old San Francisco man admitted to drinking at least 13 beers before getting into a car believed to have fatally struck another man on a street median last week, prosecutors said Thursday.
Juan Martinez is in custody on $1 million bail, but did not make his first court appearance Thursday, reportedly for health reasons, since being charged with vehicular manslaughter, hit-and-run, driving on a suspended license and driving while using a cellphone.
Police were called to Cesar Chavez Street and Potrero Avenue at 8:30 a.m. Saturday and found the victim. A driver had hit him before fleeing, police said.
Martinez was arrested about 3 p.m. that day, according to police. He told cops he had “13 to 14 beers” before getting into the car, which he reported stolen after the hit-and-run, prosecutor Susan Christian told a judge Thursday.
“But the investigation led to him and he made admissions,” Christian said.
A citizen came forward with information that led to Martinez’s arrest, District Attorney’s Office spokesman Omid Talai said. Martinez also has a federal immigration detainer, Christian said.
Outside court, Martinez’s attorney had no comment on the case.
Authorities have yet to release the victim’s name.
aburack@sfexaminer.com
