Tipster led victim’s family to hidden truck nearly 2 months after deadly crash in Carefree, documents say
by Kit Silavong | Arizona’s Family, Mar. 4, 2024
PHOENIX (3TV/CBS 5) — A person who knows the suspect in a deadly hit-and-run that happened in Carefree almost three months ago contacted the victim’s family to tell them where the truck had been hidden, according to newly released court documents. Andres Guerrero Talamantes, 28, was arrested Friday in Phoenix by Maricopa County Sheriff’s deputies for the death of 27-year-old David Hadrich back on Dec. 10.
Documents indicate that Talamantes, who police say is undocumented, was driving west on Cave Creek Road when he “careened” past a stop sign at Pima Road in Carefree and collided with the rear of Hadrich’s Harley-Davidson motorcycle. The motorcycle was knocked from under Hadrich, who fell and became pinned underneath the GMC Sierra pickup truck. Documents said he was dragged over 100 feet after the collision.
“He continued to go,” Hadrich’s father, Tim Hadrich, told Arizona’s Family following the arrest. “Why? Why would anybody do that to somebody?”
Debris from the truck was taken to a local car dealership who said it likely belonged to a Chevrolet Silverado or a GMC Sierra. Detectvies were able to find video surveillance near the area and were able to identify a GMC Sierra going west on Cave Creek Road. Detectives also obtained video from business west of Pima Road what showed a similar truck with damage to it.
Court documents cite multiple news reports about the collision and Hadrich’s memorial, which led to MCSO receiving multiple tips. An anonymous tipster identified Talamantes as the truck driver. According to court records, he struggles with drugs and often lives on the street but on occasion stays with his mother, who is the registered owner of the truck.
Detectives then received a second tip identifying him as the driver. That person claimed Talamantes confessed to the incident during a family gathering, saying, “the boy came out of nowhere ... it was just an accident.” The tipster also said Talamantes was trying to save enough money to flee to Mexico.
The location of the truck remained a mystery until last month. Court documents say that on Feb. 9, that second tipster contacted one of Hadrich’s family members to tell them where the truck was hidden, who then called Glendale police. That led investigators to a construction storage yard near 79th and Glendale avenues. Once the truck was taken in as evidence, an analysis by MCSO determined the truck was going at least 53 miles per hour at the time of the crash.
Investigators also obtained a search warrant to check the suspect’s phone records later that month, which reportedly showed that Talamantes was in the area during the time when the deadly collision occurred. Detectives eventually located Talamantes and took him into custody on March 1.
During his interview, he reportedly told detectives he was the driver and that “the accident happened so fast.” Per documents, he said he stopped in an alley to think about what happened, in fear because he was in the country illegally and did not have a driver’s license.
He also reportedly admitted to detectives that he then drove to the construction storage yard to leave the truck, removed the front bumper and grill and cut out the deployed airbags. He said he doesn’t remember where he trashed them.
Talamantes is being held on a cash bail of $150,000 in connection with Hadrich’s death, destroying evidence and causing someone’s death while driving without a license.
“Our heart is in a million pieces right now, and nothing brings back David,” his father told Arizona’s Family over the weekend.
“My most regret is I didn’t have enough time with him,” Hadrich’s aunt Rhonda said.