A motorist has been charged in the death of a moped driver after a hit-and-run rear-end crash in southwest Charlotte on Saturday.
Police Angel Zarate Cruz, 43, had stopped his moped to turn left into the parking lot of a shopping center near the 6400 block of South Boulevard at 8:13 p.m. He was rear-ended by a 2010 Dodge Caliber going south on South Boulevard, police said.
The crash pushed Cruz and his moped into the South Boulevard lanes going north, according to police, and Cruz was hit by a vehicle traveling that way.
The Dodge’s driver drove off south on South Boulevard. The second vehicle who hit Cruz stopped at the scene.
Cruz was pronounced dead by Medic at the scene.
Police said they obtained the tag number and description of the first vehicle from a witness who called 911. After going to the address registered for the Dodge, police found the vehicle there.
James Lesage, 51, was charged with felony hit-and-run, driving while impaired, and felony death by vehicle, police said.
Lesage remains in custody while detectives continue to investigate the wreck, according to police.
Police ask anyone with information on the crash to call Detective Gormican or Detective Reibold: 704-432-2169 or Crime Stoppers: 704-334-1600.
