CHICO — The man who police suspect of driving a car into a home that started a fire on The Esplanade has been identified as Jose Guadalupe Cervantes-Ayala.
A press release issued Thursday by the Chico Police Department said it, as well as the Chico State University Police Department, are still investigating the deadly crash and trying to find Cervantes-Ayala, 24.
According to the release, the Cervantes-Ayala currently has an arrest warrant for gross vehicular manslaughter as well as a warrant for hit and run that caused great bodily injury.
On March 1, a car with three people inside crashed into a house next to the Museum of Northern California Art on The Esplanade in Chico. The passengers were removed from the car, one by a bystander, and the driver allegedly ran away from the scene. One person on the bottom floor of the house was able to safely leave the building but an 87-year-old woman on the second floor died in the hospital after the crash and fire.
Those with information regarding Cervantes-Ayala’s location are being asked by the departments to call 530-897-5820 and use case number 24-001433.
