Driver who caused death of Joplin woman pleads guilty to leaving the scene of an accident

 

The driver who struck and killed a pedestrian, Eva M. Havelock, 55, Joplin, at W. 7th and South Gray and then fled the scene pleaded guilty Monday in Jasper County Circuit Court to a felony leaving the scene of an accident.

The plea for Ruben Blanco, 49, Joplin, came as a result of a plea agreement with the Jasper County Prosecuting Attorney's office. In exchange for Blanco's guilty plea, a second charge, driving while revoked, was dismissed.

On the plea agreement form, Blanco described his crime "hit a pedestrian while driving & then left the scene and the pedestrian died."

If Judge David Mouton accepts the plea agreement, the range of punishment for Blanco is two to seven years and a fine of up to $10,000.

Mouton ordered a sentencing assessment and scheduled sentencing for 1 p.m. Monday, September 23.

If the plea agreement is accepted, whatever sentence Blanco receives will run concurrently with whatever sentence he receives for an earlier hit and run that occurred September 26, 2023 at 9th Street and Byers in Joplin.

According to the probable cause statement, Blanco failed to yield at the intersection, hit another vehicle and fled.

Joplin Police arrested Blanco while investigating the fatality accident, the statement said.

Blanco was asked about the crash on 09/26/2023 and he stated he was eastbound on 9th St and crashed into the other vehicle and fled the scene due to having a suspended driver's license. Blancos vehicle had significant damage to the front of it. The damage done to the victim's vehicle was over $1,000. Blanco has a prior conviction of leaving the scene of an accident in California on 05/03/2002.

Previous posts

The Turner Report: Suspect in hit-and-run death of Joplin woman had suspended California license (rturner229.blogspot.com)

The Turner Report: Arrest made in hit-and-run death of Joplin woman, vehicle located in Duquesne (rturner229.blogspot.com)

The Turner Report: Officer Cory Waters honored for detective work that led to arrest of suspect in hit-and-run that killed Joplin woman (rturner229.blogspot.com)

The Turner Report: $25,000 settlement approved in wrongful death lawsuit over hit-and-run accident that killed Joplin woman (rturner229.blogspot.com)