FORT WAYNE, Ind. — A late-night crash on Maysville Road has led to serious charges against a 26-year-old woman after a man was fatally struck by a Ford F-150, according to authorities and court records.
The victim, 49-year-old Donsia Kizer, was found lying in the roadway shortly before midnight on June 18 near the 6700 block of Maysville Road.
Police say investigators later determined Kizer died from blunt force trauma, with evidence also indicating that his body had been dragged after the impact.
The investigation eventually led authorities to Esperanza Villafana, who now faces charges of leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death or catastrophic injury and obstruction of justice.
According to court records, investigators believe Villafana was behind the wheel of the truck involved in the fatal crash.
Police Say Driver Had Been Drinking and Using Marijuana
Authorities were reportedly given information by a credible source who said they had been with Villafana before the crash.
According to police, the source told investigators that Villafana had consumed alcohol and marijuana before leaving to make a DoorDash delivery. At some point after leaving, authorities allege that Villafana struck Kizer.
The source later told police that Villafana called and said she had hit an animal. Investigators, however, began finding evidence that suggested the collision involved a person.
When officers arrived at the scene, they found Kizer face up on the roadway with his eyes open and his arms extended. His left shoe was missing.
Police later found the shoe approximately 90 feet from the location where Kizer was discovered, adding another significant piece of evidence to the investigation.
Truck Debris and Surveillance Help Investigators
Investigators also located pieces of plastic headlight debris near the crash scene. Police said the debris appeared to have come from a Ford F-150 manufactured between 2009 and 2014.
Surveillance footage provided another important clue. Investigators reportedly observed a red Ford F-150 turning in the area around the time of the collision.
License plate tracking then connected the vehicle to one belonging to a man who lived with Villafana, according to authorities.
The evidence prompted investigators to focus on Villafana and the truck as they worked to reconstruct what happened that night.
Driver Allegedly Returned to Check Crash Scene
Authorities say Villafana later spoke with the same source about what had happened. According to investigators, she said she had “seen him” after returning to the crash location with a friend. Investigators eventually interviewed Villafana about the incident.
Police allege that Villafana said she had heard a beeping noise while driving that night. She reportedly looked down after feeling something and initially believed she had struck a mailbox or a dog.
But authorities say her account changed in significance after she learned about the fatal crash through news coverage.
Police Say She Checked News to See If It Was a Person
According to investigators, Villafana later showed the source a news report about the crash and said she was having difficulty dealing with what had happened.
A detective reportedly asked Villafana whether the only reason she believed she had struck a person was because she saw the incident reported in the news.
Authorities said Villafana nodded yes. Investigators also allege that she repeatedly checked police activity news after the crash to “see if it was a person.”
Police further allege that Villafana changed the appearance of the Ford F-150 because she was concerned investigators might be searching for the vehicle.
Those allegations form part of the obstruction of justice charge she is facing.
Villafana Remains in Jail Without Bond
Villafana is currently being held at the Allen County Jail without bond, according to the information provided by authorities. She faces the charges in connection with Kizer’s death, although the allegations remain matters for the court to determine.
Authorities have not indicated when Villafana is expected to appear next in court.
The investigation has left unanswered questions about exactly what happened in the moments leading up to the collision, but investigators have assembled evidence including surveillance footage, vehicle debris, license plate tracking and witness information as they pursue the case.
For Kizer’s family, the crash resulted in the loss of a 49-year-old man, while prosecutors now face the task of presenting the evidence surrounding his death in court.
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