DRIVER RAN OVER PEDESTRIAN WITH WORK VAN, DROVE TWO HOURS TO A JOB SITE AND CLAIMED HE MAY HAVE HIT A DEER

A Minnesota man who struck and killed a pedestrian with his work van allegedly continued driving as though nothing had happened, traveling nearly two hours away to a roofing job while telling others he thought he might have hit a deer. Months later, the driver has admitted responsibility for the fatal crash—but the sentence he received means he will serve his jail time under electronic monitoring at home.

Jose Hernandez Pineda, 47, pleaded guilty to criminal vehicular homicide in connection with the death of 31-year-old Abdul Bakr Jafar. He was sentenced to 360 days in jail, which the judge allowed him to serve at home with an electronic monitor, followed by five years of probation. He also received credit for 55 days already served, according to Law&Crime.

The case began in the early hours of September 26, 2025, when Jafar was found lying on the side of a road in Maplewood, Minnesota. By the time emergency responders arrived, he had died at the scene.

Investigators would later uncover evidence that the van involved in the collision had continued on to a job site roughly two hours away, where Hernandez Pineda was working.

Witness Sees Van Speed Away From the Scene

According to a probable cause statement reviewed by Law&Crime, Jafar was discovered around 4:30 a.m. on September 26. A witness who was delivering newspapers in the area reportedly saw a dark-colored van speed away from the scene.

The witness managed to photograph the vehicle and record its license plate number, giving investigators an important lead.

Police traced the van to a local roofing company. The address associated with the vehicle was connected to the home of Hernandez Pineda’s ex-wife.

When officers contacted her, she reportedly explained that she had spoken with Hernandez Pineda earlier that morning after receiving a call from police.

During their conversation, Hernandez Pineda allegedly denied hitting a person. Instead, he reportedly told her that he thought he might have hit a deer.

That explanation became a significant part of the investigation as officers worked to determine what had happened to Jafar and why the driver had left the scene.

Investigators Find the Van Two Hours Away

Police tracked Hernandez Pineda’s cellphone to Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, a location approximately two hours from where Jafar had been found.

The van was located at the job site, where Hernandez Pineda was reportedly carrying out roofing work.

Investigators observed heavy damage to the front of the vehicle, according to the probable cause statement. The damage was consistent with the seriousness of the collision authorities were investigating.

Officers also reported that Hernandez Pineda smelled of alcohol when they found him.

He was arrested at approximately 11:25 a.m. A breath test administered after his arrest recorded a blood alcohol concentration of 0.06%.

That result was below Minnesota’s standard 0.08% legal threshold for driving with a blood alcohol concentration over the limit. However, the reading alone does not establish what his alcohol level was at the time of the crash, and it does not rule out impairment at an earlier time.

Investigators continued gathering evidence to establish how the collision occurred and whether Hernandez Pineda was responsible for Jafar’s death.

Surveillance Video Reveals What Happened

A key breakthrough came when investigators recovered surveillance footage showing the van striking Jafar.

According to Law&Crime, the video showed the vehicle hitting the pedestrian head-on.

The footage provided important evidence linking the van to the fatal collision, supplementing the witness’s photograph and license plate information, the damage to the vehicle and the location data from Hernandez Pineda’s cellphone.

Together, these findings helped investigators build their case against the driver.

Jafar, who was 31, died at the scene. The circumstances left his family facing a devastating loss while authorities worked to determine the driver’s actions in the moments immediately following the collision.

For investigators, the central questions were no longer limited to identifying the vehicle. They also concerned why the driver had continued his journey instead of remaining at the scene and seeking emergency assistance.

Victim’s Parents Speak About Forgiveness and Loss

Jafar’s parents attended Hernandez Pineda’s sentencing hearing. Although they did not deliver a formal victim impact statement in court, their views were reportedly part of the discussions surrounding the plea agreement.

Assistant Ramsey County Attorney Jake Murphy told the court that Jafar’s parents emphasized the importance of their Islamic faith and forgiveness while also expressing the profound loss their family had suffered.

Their response reflected the difficult balance between seeking accountability and dealing with the death of a loved one.

No sentence can restore Jafar’s life or remove the grief experienced by those who knew him. His parents’ presence at the hearing served as a reminder that the consequences of a fatal crash extend far beyond the driver and the criminal charges.

Driver Says He Should Have Stayed

During the sentencing hearing, Hernandez Pineda addressed the court through an interpreter.

“I should have stayed, but at the moment I was unable to,” he said, according to Law&Crime.

His statement acknowledged that he should have remained at the scene, though it did not change the outcome for Jafar or his family.

Hernandez Pineda’s guilty plea brought the criminal case to sentencing without a trial. He was convicted of criminal vehicular homicide and received 360 days in jail, to be served at home with electronic monitoring, followed by five years of probation.

The judge also credited him with 55 days already served.

The sentence means Hernandez Pineda will be subject to electronic monitoring during his period of home confinement rather than serving the full 360 days inside a traditional jail facility.

A Fatal Crash With Lasting Consequences

The death of Abdul Bakr Jafar began with a collision on a Minnesota road before dawn. A witness saw a van flee, investigators tracked the vehicle to a distant work site, and surveillance footage later showed the van striking Jafar.

Hernandez Pineda ultimately pleaded guilty, bringing the case to a conclusion through the court system.

But for Jafar’s parents and loved ones, the legal outcome cannot undo the loss of a 31-year-old man. Their decision to emphasize forgiveness, as prosecutors described it, does not diminish the gravity of what happened or the lasting impact of his death.

The case also highlights the importance of remaining at the scene of a serious crash and contacting emergency services. When someone is struck by a vehicle, immediate assistance may be critical, and leaving can make an already devastating situation even more difficult for the victim and investigators.

Source: Law&Crime