Suspect ID’d by police in fatal downtown crash that killed Clovis woman, 19

The woman killed in a crash with a man fleeing a California Highway Patrol officer Wednesday was identified Thursday afternoon by the Fresno County Coroner as Hannah Pimentel, 19, of Clovis.

The crash happened around 3 p.m. near Stanislaus and N streets, where Fresno Police said a man believed to be a Bulldog gang member drove a black Ford Fusion at a high-rate of speed and fatally struck Pimentel, who was driving a black BMW.

The suspect, identified by police as Marc Cain Rodriguez, remained at large Thursday afternoon. He was driving the wrong way down a one-way street, then took off running. That prompted a lockdown of a nearby school, Lowell Elementary.

Fresno Police Chief Paco Balderrama said Wednesday that during the pursuit, the suspect tossed an AR-15 out the car window and in front of the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office. It was unclear if the man had any other weapons.

Balderrama said the chase began in Chinatown after the CHP officer, who is part of the multi-agency gang enforcement consortium (MAGEC), pulled over the man, who was wanted for several weapons violations.

Rodriguez initially pulled over, but as the CHP officer got out of his vehicle and started to approach the Fusion, the gang member took off quickly.

The officer following for a few blocks but eventually lost the suspect.

A few blocks later, the CHP officer located the Fusion after noticing a cloud of smoke, where the fleeing vehicle had collided with the woman driving a BMW. The suspect, meanwhile, jumped out of the car and ran north.

Police said Rodriguez has a violent history who is said to carry firearms. Police said MAGEC was aware that he has an outstanding felony warrant for illegal possession of an assault rifle.

Anyone with information to Rodriguez’s whereabouts can remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at 559-498-7867 or call 559-289-7759.

This story was originally published May 13, 2021 at 1:49 PM.