Person of Interest Questioned, Vehicle Seized in Death of Bicyclist

A witness tried to help a man who ended up dying when a driver struck his bicycle. On Monday, police towed the suspect's vehicle to the crime lab for testing.

Beaumont Police are testing the car for evidence to find out if they can link the driver to a fatal hit and run accident at Liberty and Ninth St.

Investigators have also questioned a 26-year-old woman they call a person of interest in the death of 27 year old Crescenciano Pluma-Morales of Mexico.

Police say Morales was working in the area and officers are trying to find his relatives to 'tell them' about the death.

Belinda Foster didn't see the collision, but believes she knows what happened.

Saturday night, Foster was sitting at her home near the intersection of Liberty and Ninth St. in Beaumont watching television, when she heard a loud bang.

She rushed outside.

Morales was in the road. Police say he'd been dragged 20 feet by the car.

"The man stopped breathing and I was praying for him and he started breathing and I looked up and the ambulance was there," said Foster.

Foster says the driver had stopped and was trying to explain what happened.

“She was telling me he flew in front of me. He flew in front of me,” she said. ”The next thing I know, I look up to my right and I see the car take off."

Foster says before the woman drove away, she saw her move Morales' bicycle out of the way.

Foster said, “I think people tend to panic sometimes they may be drinking or other reasons they flee the scene.”

Police say there investigation has revealed the woman was not at fault in the accident, and probably wouldn't be facing charges if she hadn't fled the scene.

"It is a violation of the law, a felony to leave the scene of a traffic accident where you have serious injuries," said Officer Crystal Holmes.

Morales died at a hospital.

Monday morning police towed the lavender Chevy Cobalt from a home in Beaumont's west end. Investigators believe it's the car the woman was driving when she struck Morales.

Foster says she isn't sure why the woman decided to drive away.

"In the beginning they had no intention of leaving cause she was standing there telling me and another person what happened she stayed there a good while it wasn't like she just ran over him moved the bike and left," she said.

But police say by leaving, the woman has opened herself up to charges of manslaughter.

If you have any information about the victim and where his relatives can be found, call Beaumont Police at 833-3271.

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Beaumont police have questioned a person of interest accused of striking a bicylist and moving the bike before driving away, and KFDM News was in Beaumont's West End when officers seized what they call a suspect vehicle.

Police are identifying the bicyclist killed in the Saturday night collision as Crescenciano Pluma-Morales, 27, of Mexico. They say he was working in Beaumont. Police are trying to notify his relatives.

Investigators obtained a statement Monday after questioning a 26 year old woman they call a person of interest in the death.

A lavender Chevy Cobalt was towed to the Jefferson County Crime Lab from her residence in Beaumont's West End. Police say they'll refer the case to a grand jury for possible indictment on manslaughter charges.

Investigators say the bicyclist was killed at about 8:30 p.m. Saturday following a hit and run collision at the intersection of Liberty and 9th Street.

Witnesses told police a small, light-colored car, possibly white or silver in color, had struck a Hispanic male as he rode his bike into the path of the vehicle. The witnesses also stated that a black female with very short hair had gotten out the car, moved the bike and then fled the scene.

The victim, 27 year old Crescenciano Pluma-Morales, was taken to a local hospital where he died. Investigators are asking for assistance in locating next of kin. If you have information about Morales' family, call Beaumont Police at 833-3271.

Watch Live at 5 and KFDM News at 6 & 10 for more on the story. Tonight at 6 we'll have reaction from a witness who spoke with the suspect seconds after the accident.