LANCASTER, Pa. — A Lancaster man will serve up to six years in prison after pleading guilty to fleeing from the scene of a pedestrian crash that killed a prominent pediatrician in 2021.
Rodolfo Paradas, 54, pleaded guilty in January to his role in the crash that claimed the life of Dr. Steven Killough on October 29, 2021, according to the Lancaster County District Attorney's Office.
Killough was struck by a vehicle driven by Paradas while in a crosswalk between North Prince and West Chestnut streets at 5:45 p.m.
Paradas initially stayed at the scene, helping Killough to a sidewalk, but left before police arrived. He later admitted that he was driving under a suspended license and was fearful of the consequences, according to prosecutors.
Killough sustained a traumatic brain injury in the incident and died on November 12, 2021, prosecutors said.
At Monday's hearing, Lancaster County Judge Merrill Spahn sentenced Paradas to a prison term of three to six years.
Paradas had previously pleaded guilty to accidents involving death or personal injury, accidents involving death while not licensed, and three summary offenses.
Assistant District Attorney Caitlin Blazier read a statement from the victim’s daughter during the proceeding before asking for at least the mandatory minimum of three years.
“This case is multifaceted,” Blazier said. “There is a family here suffering with the loss of a loved one. We also have this defendant who suffered their own tragedy.”
Paradas appeared in court on a medical gurney. Shortly after the 2021 crash, he sustained a serious injury in a fall from a roof and was paralyzed from the waist down.
“Because you got scared and left the scene, that makes this the correct charge,” Spahn told the defendant. “If you stayed it likely would’ve been a traffic citation. The flaw you had that evening was driving, you shouldn’t have been driving.”
Lancaster City Bureau of Police Officer Ziyi Skatz filed charges.
