CARTHAGE, Mo. — A suspect has been arrested and charged following a hit-and-run incident on Saturday evening that left a Carthage teen fighting for his life.
Detectives identified the suspect vehicle as a red Chevrolet Equinox, based on parts found at the crash site. They confirmed the vehicle would have front-end damage.
The Probable Cause Affidavit filed today states:
“Through further investigation, security footage from the area of the crash showed the vehicle fleeing the scene north toward the intersection of Central Ave. and Baker Blvd. It then continued west, leaving Carthage about four minutes after the crash.
The vehicle was later confirmed to be a 2013 Chevrolet Equinox, identified by vehicle parts found in the ditch near where the juvenile male victim was located.
With help from the Joplin Police Department, the Carthage Police Department found a red 2013 Chevrolet Equinox, with Missouri license plate TD8U8N, at the suspect’s residence. The vehicle had clear front-end damage.
The male at the residence, later identified as Miguel Gaspar-Diaz, initially claimed he hit a deer on November 25, 2024, and had not been to Carthage.
Carthage detectives used the vehicle parts recovered from the crash scene to reconstruct the damage and confirmed that the vehicle was involved in the hit-and-run.
During a follow-up interview, Gaspar-Diaz admitted to drinking alcohol at a friend’s house in Carthage before the crash. He confessed to hitting the juvenile victim with his car, driving a short distance, stopping to remove the victim from the hood, and placing him in the ditch. Gaspar-Diaz then admitted to fleeing the scene without contacting authorities or exchanging information.
It was also discovered that Gaspar-Diaz never held a valid Missouri driver’s license and currently had three suspensions on his driving privileges in Missouri.”
Miguel Gaspar-Diaz faces the following charges:
- Felony Assault
- Felony Leaving the Scene of a Crash
- Felony Tampering with Evidence
- Failure to Drive on the Right Side of the Road
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as new information becomes available.