YAKIMA, Wash. — A 28-year-old man was killed early Saturday morning after being struck by a vehicle in downtown Yakima, an incident police say may have followed an argument between the victim and the suspect earlier in the night.
According to the Yakima Police Department (YPD), officers were dispatched to the 100 block of South Second Street around 1:40 a.m. after receiving reports of a man down in a parking lot. Upon arrival, officers found Alejandro Hernandez Baez suffering from critical injuries consistent with being hit by a car. Despite lifesaving efforts by officers and paramedics, Baez was pronounced dead at the scene.
Following an extensive investigation, officers located the suspect’s vehicle later that morning in the Moxee area. The driver, a 29-year-old man, was taken into custody without incident and booked into the Yakima County Jail on charges of Vehicular Homicide. Police said the two men had reportedly been at a downtown bar earlier that night and were involved in an altercation before the crash occurred.
Investigators are continuing to piece together the sequence of events leading up to the fatal collision. Detectives believe the argument may have escalated, but they have not yet confirmed whether the suspect intentionally struck Baez or if impairment played a role. The Yakima County Prosecutor’s Office will review the case to determine formal charges.
Authorities are urging anyone who may have witnessed the incident or who has surveillance footage from the area to contact Detective Lukas Hinton at (509) 575-3509, or reach out to Yakima County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
The death of Alejandro Hernandez Baez has deeply affected his family, friends, and the local community. Loved ones describe him as a kindhearted and hardworking man whose life was tragically cut short. As the investigation continues, those who knew him are calling for justice and remembering the warmth and positivity he brought into their lives.