Family of man killed in Fresno hit-and-run crash wants to keep his memory alive

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- At his barbershop successful Clovis, Prince Fields cuts hairsbreadth for his customers.

But not a time goes by wherever helium doesn't deliberation astir his brother, Bryant Fields.

"I conscionable can't judge that it happened," said Prince. "Every time that goes by, it's conscionable hard to not deliberation astir him."

Last Thursday, the 38-year-old was struck and killed connected Chestnut adjacent Clinton Avenue successful East Central Fresno.

A memorial is present astatine the tract of the crash.

Earlier this week, Fresno constabulary arrested 23-year-old Miguel Ortiz Montilla.

Police said Montilla ran implicit Fields, made a U-turn, drove past the mishap and past took off.

"How tin you deed a quality being and comeback, and witnesser what you did and past leave," said Prince. "Then connected apical of that, not adjacent crook yourself in?"

Police said Montilla is charged with hit-and-run involving death.

He was released connected enslaved Tuesday night.

It's not the archetypal clip a Central Valley household has endured this benignant of heartbreak.

In 2019, Assemblymember Jim Patterson introduced Gavin's Law, named aft Clovis Unified Vice Principal Gavin Gladding, who was killed successful a hit-and-run clang six years ago.

In Gavin's case, the driver was believed to person been drinking but didn't crook himself successful until days later.

He served conscionable 13 months of his 3 twelvemonth sentence.

Gavin's Law would person accrued the maximum situation condemnation from 4 to six years for drivers who tally from the country of a deadly crash.

Assemblymember Patterson spoke to a committee astir the measure backmost successful 2020.

"There is simply a perverse inducement that if you hit, leave, and enactment away, you're going to walk little clip than if you stayed and you were a quality being astatine the scene," said Patterson 4 years ago.

Action News besides reached retired to Rita Gladding, the parent of Gavin, she said it's inactive unconscionable that this is inactive happening.

She adds she doesn't recognize however anyone tin locomotion distant from an mishap without stopping to spot what they had done to different person.

But the deadline to re-introduce Gavin's Law into the State Assembly has already passed successful this legislative session.

"I can't get my member back, my ma can't get her lad back," said Prince. "His 3 sons that helium has, they won't get the accidental to speech to him again."

Prince's absorption present is to support his brother's representation alive, particularly for his nephews.

"They've asked maine questions," said Prince. "How helium was and his property and things we utilized to do."

The household has created a GoFundMe page to assistance screen ceremonial expenses.

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