Calel assigned to house arrest for accident which killed woman
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The defendant, Santos Calel, 41, was placed on probation for three years by Circuit Court Judge Charles Haston last week. The first year of his probation will be spent on house arrest where he will be able only to go between work and home during the week. He will be allowed to travel with his family on the weekends.
The sentence comes after Calel entered a guilty plea earlier this year to charges of negligent homicide and leaving the scene of a fatal accident. His conviction comes for the crash on Crisp Springs Road which claimed the life of Novella Hodges, 42, and injured two of her children.
Calel reportedly pulled from a stop sign at Fred Cooper Road and into the path of Hodges’ vehicle. The impact caused the Hodges vehicle to overturn, claiming Hodges’ life and critically injuring two of her three children who were in the vehicle.
Calel fled the scene in his damaged van after the crash, despite attempts by witnesses to stop him. He was located a few days later and charged with the offense. In asking for leniency, the defense pointed out the wreck was an accident and that Calel left the scene because he was scared.