The hit and run driver responsible for the death of a Ceres couple was captured Thursday after eight months on the run.
Jose Ines Quintero, 33, of Modesto, was taken into custody by California Highway Patrol officers. Quintero had fled to Mexico in 2007 following a crash that claimed the lives of Deon Tackett, 74, and his wife Betty Tackett, 73, said CHP spokesman Officer Tom Killian said.
The accident happened as the Tacketts were returning from a church service around 8 p.m. on Oct. 7, 2007.
According to the CHP report, the Tacketts were in a 2002 Ford Explorer, when they were broadsided by a 1991 Ford F150 at the intersection of Central Avenue and Taylor Road.
Killian said Quintero failed to stop at a posted stop sign and was driving without any headlights on.
The collision sent both vehicles onto the west shoulder, where the Tackett's truck struck and sheared off a utility pole.
Betty Tackett sustained fatal injuries and died at the scene. Deon Tackett was airlifted to a hospital and succumbed to his injuries days later. Quintero fled the scene without checking on the Tacketts, Killian said.
CHP Officer Mayolo Banuelos received information that Quintero had returned to Modesto about a month and a half ago.
With assistance from the Stanislaus County Auto Theft Task Force surveillance was conducted at a residence in the 1100 block of Imperial Avenue in South Modesto, believed to be Quintero's last known address.
Because no driver's license was ever issued to Quintero, authorities had to get a photo of the suspect through the Mexican consulate, said Killian.
Bail was set at $1.5 million for Quintero, who was in the country illegally. The Immigration and Naturalization Service also placed a hold on him in case he posts the required bail, said Killian.
Jose Ines Quintero, 33, of Modesto, was taken into custody by California Highway Patrol officers. Quintero had fled to Mexico in 2007 following a crash that claimed the lives of Deon Tackett, 74, and his wife Betty Tackett, 73, said CHP spokesman Officer Tom Killian said.
The accident happened as the Tacketts were returning from a church service around 8 p.m. on Oct. 7, 2007.
According to the CHP report, the Tacketts were in a 2002 Ford Explorer, when they were broadsided by a 1991 Ford F150 at the intersection of Central Avenue and Taylor Road.
Killian said Quintero failed to stop at a posted stop sign and was driving without any headlights on.
The collision sent both vehicles onto the west shoulder, where the Tackett's truck struck and sheared off a utility pole.
Betty Tackett sustained fatal injuries and died at the scene. Deon Tackett was airlifted to a hospital and succumbed to his injuries days later. Quintero fled the scene without checking on the Tacketts, Killian said.
CHP Officer Mayolo Banuelos received information that Quintero had returned to Modesto about a month and a half ago.
With assistance from the Stanislaus County Auto Theft Task Force surveillance was conducted at a residence in the 1100 block of Imperial Avenue in South Modesto, believed to be Quintero's last known address.
Because no driver's license was ever issued to Quintero, authorities had to get a photo of the suspect through the Mexican consulate, said Killian.
Bail was set at $1.5 million for Quintero, who was in the country illegally. The Immigration and Naturalization Service also placed a hold on him in case he posts the required bail, said Killian.
