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UPDATE: Woman sentenced to 11 years in prison for fatal hit and run

UPDATE 8/22/2017 5:10 p.m. A woman has been sentenced to 11 years in prison for the hit-and-run death of a biker in December of last year.

Violeta Chacon Cervantes was convicted of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and leaving the scene of an accident.

34-year-old Scott Brunton was biking with a fiend on Freedom Boulevard when he was struck by Cervantes and pronounced dead on the scene.

Cervantes fled the scene driving northbound on Freedom. Officers said upon contact, Cervantes was uncooperative and displayed objective symptoms of drug intoxication, and during the investigation she “nodded off” or fell asleep.

At the time of the incident, she was also on probation for several misdemeanor offenses including a 2014 conviction in Monterey County for driving while impaired.

Assistant District Attorney Alex Byers said, “The defendant is being held fully accountable for her actions and decisions. Our office feels that justice has truly been served for the victim and his family, and that our community will be safer as a result of this sentence.”

PREVIOUS STORY:

A 34-year-old man is dead after being hit by a car while riding a bicycle near Watsonville Sunday night.

CHP said the driver, identified as 29-year-old Violeta Cervantes, was going westbound on Freedom Boulevard, approaching Scurich Lane.

Officers said she admitted to being distracted by her phone prior to hitting the man, who was thrown from his bike and pronounced dead on scene.

Cervantes tried to escape, but a vehicle description was given to CHP dispatch and officers were able to locate her shortly after.

The cause is still under investigation, but officers believe drugs and/or alcohol may have been a factor.

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