A man wanted in connection with a 2012 vehicular homicide has been captured in Spain.
- Fatal crash occurred in 2012; William Angel killed
- Christopher Ponce was on house arrest when he fled in 2013
- Local authorities working on extradition of Ponce
Florida Highway Patrol confirmed that Christopher Ponce was taken into custody.
Authorities say Ponce was driving the wrong way on Interstate 275 and crashed head-on into William Angel’s vehicle.
William died from his injuries. He was 20 years old.
William Angel, 20, was killed by a wrong-way driver on I-275 in Tampa in 2012. (file)
Ponce, who was 22 at the time of the crash, was on house arrest when he removed his ankle monitor in May 2013 and fled.
William's father, Wade, created a website dedicated to finding Ponce.
“I made a promise to my son at his funeral that I was going to make sure justice was done,” said Wade Angel.
Wednesday morning, Angel received an email from the State Attorney’s Office notifying him about Ponce’s capture.
“I saw that and I just yelled. My wife was in her car in the garage with the motor running on the way to work. I guess I yelled so loud she heard me,” Angel said.
Angel says Spanish police noticed Ponce in a bus station acting strangely. Angel says Ponce gave them a fake passport and a fake name. When they fingerprinted Ponce, they realize he was a wanted man.
“I’ve never for a moment thought we wouldn’t get him. It was just a matter of when,” said Angel.
Angel now knows he can keep the promise he made to his son when Ponce returns to stand trial.
Authorities say it could take months for Ponce to return to the states if he decides to fight extradition.
The crash also badly hurt two men in the car with William in 2012.
Christopher Ponce’s escape was recently featured on CNN’s ‘The Hunt with John Walsh.’
William’s father says it appeared the police officers in Spain did not question Ponce because they saw the show. He says it appears to be good old fashioned police work.
“I will find those two officers and thank them,” Angel said.