On Saturday, Jan. 29, 2022, the Medina County Sheriff’s Office arrested 28-year-old Jordan Michael Sannicola of Hondo, TX, following a fatal hit and run crash that occurred Jan. 3, 2022. Collision investigators with the San Marcos Police Department identified Sannicola as the suspect in the crash, which resulted in the death of 18-year-old Iliana Velez of Houston, TX.
Sannicola, a contract worker for a trucking company out of North Carolina, was captured on Amazon surveillance video arriving at their Kyle Distribution Facility approximately 15 minutes after the collision. The box truck he was driving when he arrived at the facility matched surveillance photos released by the San Marcos Police Department earlier this month.
"After asking the public for help with identifying the suspect, our department received several tips to contact Amazon," said San Marcos Police Sergeant Sam Myers. "Our investigators were able to positively match the truck as it pulled into the Kyle location. We greatly appreciate the public's help with this investigation, which led us to ultimately identifying the suspect."
San Marcos Police obtained a warrant for Sannicola for Accident Involving Death, a second-degree felony, and he was taken into custody without incident. At the time of his arrest, Sannicola had outstanding felony warrants from Kendall County for one count of Evading Arrest in a Vehicle and two counts of Abandoning/Endangering a Child. As of this release, Sannicola remains in the Kendall County Jail on a $185,000 bond.
For media inquiries, contact communicationsinfo@sanmarcostx.gov.
Previous Release January 12, 2022:
Police Release New Photos of Truck Involved in Fatal Crash, Request Assistance Identifying Driver
San Marcos Police have obtained surveillance photos of a box truck involved in a fatal crash on Jan. 3, 2022, which resulted in the death of 18-year-old Iliana Velez of Houston, TX. The box truck collided with Velez’s vehicle on northbound I-35 near Wonder World Drive. After the collision, the box truck exited the interstate. Surveillance footage later shows the truck returning to the interstate and traveling northbound.
The surveillance photos, taken near the intersection of S Guadalupe Street and Knox Street following the crash, show the truck to have a white box with yellow on the bottom half of the doors and front fenders. The hood, roof, upper doors, and box of the truck are all white.
The cab of the truck has amber lights along the roofline, and there may be marker lights on the corners of the box. The truck appears to have writing on the box just behind the door on the driver’s side and writing or a shape just below the door’s handle.
There are only two axles on the truck, and the rear of the box is extremely overset of the rear tires. The rims on the tires appear to be white.
The San Marcos Police Department is investigating the crash as an Accident Involving Death, a felony level offense. Anyone with information about the truck or the identity of its driver is asked to contact Sergeant Myers at smyers@sanmarcostx.gov.
For media inquiries, contact communicationsinfo@sanmarcostx.gov.
Original Release January 4, 2022:
Police Investigating Fatal Hit and Run Crash
On Monday, Jan. 3, 2022, at approximately 2:15 a.m., San Marcos Police responded to a crash on northbound I-35 near Wonder World Drive. Witnesses told police a silver Mazda and a large box truck collided where the ramp meets the main lanes of I-35, causing the Mazda to flip. The box truck continued driving and did not stop.
Upon arrival, officers located a silver passenger car on its side. The sole occupant of the vehicle, identified as 18-year-old Iliana Velez of Houston, TX, was pronounced deceased at the scene by Hays County Justice of the Peace Jo Anne Prado.
Police continue to investigate what caused the vehicles to collide. As of this release, the truck has not been located and the driver has not been identified.
A witness described the truck as a white box truck with a yellow cab. Anyone with information is asked to contact Sergeant Myers at smyers@sanmarcostx.gov.
This is the first fatal crash investigated by San Marcos Police in 2022. For media inquiries, contact communicationsinfo@sanmarcostx.gov.
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