LANCASTER, PA — In a courtroom confession, a Lancaster city man admitted on Tuesday to his role in a fatal hit-and-run incident that claimed the life of 66-year-old Dr. Steven Killough.
Rodolfo Paradas, a resident of the 100 block of Abbeyville Road, entered an open guilty plea to charges including accidents involving death or personal injury, accidents involving death while not licensed, and three summary offenses. The charges stem from an incident that occurred on October 29, 2021, at the intersection of N. Prince and W. Chestnut Streets in downtown Lancaster.
According to the Lancaster City Bureau of Police, Paradas was behind the wheel of a white work van when he struck Dr. Killough, who was walking in the crosswalk. Paradas then assisted the victim to the side of the road but left the scene without providing any information about the crash to the police. Tragically, Dr. Killough succumbed to his injuries on November 12, 2021.
The breakthrough in the case came when video footage obtained from the Lancaster Safety Coalition led police to identify the vehicle involved in the incident. Paradas was subsequently tracked down and identified as the driver. It was also revealed that Paradas did not possess a valid driver’s license at the time of the accident, having had it previously revoked in Massachusetts.
Paradas now faces a maximum sentence of 17 years in prison and a $40,275 fine. Lancaster County Judge Merrill Spahn will determine the final sentence following a presentence investigation.
Assistant District Attorney Caitlin Blazier is prosecuting the case, with Lancaster City Bureau of Police Officer Ziyi Skatz having filed the charges.
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