Special Event Planned To Honor Woman Killed in Yakima

Authorities continue the search for a man charged with the June 12 fatal hit and run of 66-year-old Wendy Baker of Yakima. An arrest warrant has been issued for 42-year-old Juan Carlos Vargas charging him with hit-and-run fatality. Bail has been set at $250,000 if he's found and arrested. Yakima County Prosecutor Joe Brusic believes he may have fled south to Mexico. An investigation continues to try and find Vargas as the Brusic works with federal authorities.

A special event is planned in November to Honor Baker and raise funding

As the investigation continues friends of Wendy Baker are planning "A Night For Wendy" to honor Wendy’s legacy of teaching new nurses. The event is set for November 9th, from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm at The Seasons in Yakima. Baker was retired Yakima Valley College instructor before her death.
"A Night For Wendy" will support the Wendy Baker Memorial Scholarship fund set up at Yakima Valley College.
The event is an 18 and older gathering, featuring drinks, unique dessert bites, live jazz and a silent auction.
Tickets range from $10 - $300 and can be reserved through EVENTBRITE.COM. (search “A Night For Wendy”).

Baker was killed while riding her bike with a group of friend last summer

Prosecutors say on the morning of June 12 Vargas, driving a GMC Denali pickup struck Baker as she was riding along the side of the road. They say he crossed the fog line struck Baker and then fled the scene. They accuse Vargas of failing to stop and offer any help or assistance or any other information that could identify him as the driver.
There was no eyewitness that could identify the driver so Brusic says the case against Vargas is largely a circumstantial case based on a variety of evidence that points to Vargas as the driver the crash. That evidence includes computer information from Vargas' vehicle and cell phone along with other video evidence from Ring videos recorded in the area of the crash.