Shakim Mendez (Credit: Montgomery County District Attorney).
Shakim Elias Mendez 18, of the 200 block of Sunnybrook Road in Flourtown, will face charges in Montgomery County Court that he allegedly was speeding and driving recklessly on a Whitemarsh Township road when he struck and killed a Norristown man performing landscaping work along the roadway, according to an article.
Mendez was held for trial after he waived his preliminary hearing before District Court Judge Dara Nasatir, on charges of homicide by vehicle, accidents involving death or personal injury, failing to stop at the scene of a crash, failure to report a crash to police, reckless and careless driving, speeding, operating a vehicle without insurance and unsworn falsification to authorities in connection with the Nov. 8, 2024, fatal pedestrian crash.
On Feb. 20, 2025, Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele, Whitmarsh Township Police Chief Christopher Ward, and Springfield Township Police Chief Michael E. Pitkow announced the arrest of Mendez.
The incident occurred when Mendez, driving a dark-colored Chevy Malibu at high speed, struck 35-year-old Artemio De La Rosa Martinez at about 3:15 p.m. along the 6000 block of West Valley Green Road while he was working on landscaping. The impact was so severe that Martinez was thrown 168 feet, and one of his shoes was found lodged in a tree 36 feet above the ground. Mendez fled the scene on foot, abandoning the vehicle, which was later linked to him through documents found inside. The vehicle, which was not insured, was traveling at 68-70 miles per hour in a 25 mph zone at the time of the crash.
Further investigation revealed that Mendez had been driving recklessly, with his seat reclined at a 49-degree angle, severely obstructing his view. After fleeing the scene, Mendez was later spotted by police and attempted to elude capture. He was arrested on December 2, 2024, for the fatal crash. Mendez faces multiple charges, including Homicide by Vehicle, Reckless Driving, and Failure to Render Aid, and is currently in the process of being extradited to Montgomery County for arraignment.
