Preliminary hearing set for hit-and-run suspect

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Stephanie Markham, News Editor

Hit-and-run suspect Jose Garcia-Cardiel will have a preliminary hearing at 1 p.m. Monday in Courtroom 1 in the Coles County Courthouse.

His arraignment was on Oct. 6.

Garcia-Cardiel, 45, of Charleston, was arrested on Sept. 26 and charged with leaving the scene of an accident that resulted in death or great bodily harm, which was filed as a class-four felony.

He was also charged with driving with a revoked license at the time, which was filed as a class-A misdemeanor.

His bond was set for $50,000.

The accident happened on Sept. 21 near the intersection of Fourth Street and Grant Avenue and resulted in Alexandria Ward, a special education major, suffering head trauma and being airlifted to Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana.

The Charleston Police Department was alerted to a vehicle matching the description of the suspect’s vehicle based on surveillance footage from Marty’s, according to a press release.

Stephanie Markham can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].