SCRANTON — An 18-year-old man faces felony charges after a domestic dispute turned fatal on Monday, claiming the life of a young woman who was dragged by a vehicle before a secondary collision.
Scranton Police identified the victim as Rose Hernandez, 18, who was found unresponsive in the 1100 block of West Locust Street (Roundwood Place) following reports of a medical emergency.
Fatal struggle on Roundwood Place
According to investigators, the incident began as an argument between Hernandez and her boyfriend, Joseph Garcia, 18. When Garcia entered his vehicle to leave, Hernandez followed.
The situation escalated rapidly as Garcia drove away:
The Struggle: Garcia told police that as he drove, he discovered Hernandez was hanging onto the car door.
The Crash: While Hernandez was still clinging to the exterior of the vehicle, Garcia attempted to stop. During the maneuver, he struck another vehicle.
The Discovery: After the collision, Garcia found Hernandez lying on the ground in a large pool of blood.
Medical response and charges
Officers arriving on the scene attempted life-saving measures before Hernandez was rushed to the Geisinger Community Medical Center Trauma Unit. She was later pronounced dead from her injuries.
Garcia has been taken into custody and charged with aggravated assault offenses. He was processed at the Lackawanna County Criminal Justice Center.
An autopsy is scheduled for today to determine the exact cause of death, which will help prosecutors decide if charges against Garcia will be upgraded.
