A woman police say was behind the wheel during a deadly hit and run accident made her first court appearance on Wednesday.
A judge set bond at $250,000 for 33 year old Nickole Wheeler, who will likely face new charges as the result of a traffic accident last week that killed 48 year old Ruben A. Batres.
Wheeler is currently accused of Leaving the Scene of a Personal Injury Accident Resulting in Serious Injury or Death and two counts of Theft by Deception in connection to the Friday afternoon crash at 24th and Levenworth. Prosecutors plan to add a Misdemeanor Motor Vehicle Homicide charge.
In court on Wednesday, prosecutors laid out the chain of events leading up to the deadly accident. Authorities say Wheeler used a stolen ID from Iowa to test drive a 2006 GMC Envoy. Wheeler was reportedly given money to test drive the vehicle and then turn it over to the person who paid her.
Prosecutors say Wheeler took the SUV for the test drive, met the person who was paying her at a Leavenworth Conoco station and was going to follow that person to another location. As Wheeler pulled out of the gas station she lost control of the Envoy, hit Batres as he stood on the sidewalk and then ran from the scene.
Police say Wheeler then flagged down another motorist near 20th and St. Mary's Ave and asked for a ride home. That driver was aware that Wheeler had been involved in the accident, agreed to "drive her home," but instead took her back to the accident scene where she was arrested.
A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for June 19th.
(Photo courtesy of 6 News)