Oxnard man charged with murder for fatal hit-and-run road rage incident
OXNARD, Calif. - Police have arrested an Oxnard man who they say hit a man with his car in an apparent road rage incident, leading to the man's death.
On April 23, Oxnard police were dispatched for a report of a hit-and-run involving a pedestrian near the intersection of Pacific Avenue and Mountain View Avenue. Police arrived on scene and found 52-year-old Matias Lopez of Oxnard suffering from serious injuries. He was transported to the hospital for treatment where he remained until his death on May 6.
Witnesses told police that Lopez was struck by a vehicle following a verbal altercation in the middle of the street. The car hit Lopez and then fled the scene, witnesses said.
The investigation was then taken over by the Oxnard Police Department Major Crimes Unit. Based on evidence collected, detectives identified Peter Codella, 65, of Oxnard as the driver of the vehicle.
Police say the two men were involved in an argument over a minor traffic issue which ended with Codella hitting Lopez with his car.
The Ventura County District Attorney's Office has drafted charges of second degree murder in the death of Lopez. Codella is being held on a $500,000 bail.
Anyone with information regarding this crash is urged to contact the Oxnard Police Department at 805-385-7600. You can leave an anonymous tip by calling Ventura County Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or submitting an anonymous report on the Oxnard Police Department's website.
This is the eighth homicide in Oxnard this year.
