The body of a Kyle man was found in a ditch along Goforth Road early Sunday hours after authorities believe he was struck by a pickup truck.
Authorities have arrested the driver of the vehicle, who they said failed to inform law enforcement officials of the incident when they approached him the previous night.
Tony Alberto Ponce-Zamora, 22, of Kyle, was booked into the Hays County Jail Sept. 23 on a charge of failure to stop and render aid resulting in death, a second-degree felony. An Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainer was also issued for Ponce-Zamora, according to Hays County Jail Records.
According to a Department of Public Safety (DPS) spokesperson, authorities were dispatched to Goforth Road in east Kyle around 7:50 a.m. Sept. 23 for a fatal crash involving a vehicle and a pedestrian.
When authorities arrived on scene, they discovered the body of Michael Delaney May, 32, of Kyle, in a ditch off the roadway. Hays County Pct. 2 Justice of the Peace Beth Smith pronounced May dead at the scene at 8:58 a.m. Sept. 23.
During the course of a crash investigation, Hays County Sheriff’s Office deputies notified DPS officials they had made contact with the vehicle involved in the incident the night before.
A nearby area business owner contacted DPS officials because the business’ security camera caught a partial glimpse of the crash.
The business owner was able to positively identify the vehicle, a 2008 Dodge Ram Pickup, and the driver, identified as Ponce-Zamora.
Using the description of the vehicle given by both HCSO deputies and the business owner, DPS officials located the truck in the 500 block of Cotton Gin Road in Kyle. They found the truck had damage to the passenger side headlamp and windshield.
Ponce-Zamora was located and admitted to driving the vehicle at the time of the crash and leaving the scene, according to DPS officials.
Ponce-Zamora said shortly after the accident occurred, a HCSO deputy arrived on scene. DPS officials said Ponce “failed to notify the deputy that he was involved in an accident.”
Due to Ponce-Zamora withholding information regarding the incident, May was “not given medical attention and died due to his injuries.”
DPS officials are continuing to investigate the incident. Ponce-Zamora is currently being held in the Hays County Jail on $50,000 bond.
This story is developing. We will provide updates as they become available.
