Minor Traffic Dispute Turns Into Murder Case After California Suspect Runs Man Over: Prosecutors

A minor traffic dispute in California turned into a deadly road-rage incident after one of the two men involved ran the other over, prosecutors said.

Peter Codella was identified as a suspect in the two-year-old case and recently pleaded not guilty to charges of murder, felony hit and run, and a special allegation of use of a deadly weapon, his vehicle, KVTA reported.

On April 23, 2021, Codella, 67, allegedly got into an argument with 52-year-old Matias Lopez in the middle of an intersection in Oxnard, prosecutor said.

Codella, prosecutors alleged, then got back into his vehicle, deliberately drove over Lopez and then fled.

Lopez died 12 days later from his injuries.

Codella is currently free on bail.

His next court hearing is scheduled for June 14th.