Roberto Rodriguez: Family mourns loss of Iowa father of three who died after Tesla driver ran over him

DES MOINES, IOWA: Des Moines police have identified the victim in a fatal crash on the south side of the city. Roberto Rodriguez, a cherished father of three, was tragically struck and killed by a Tesla driver while taking a brief walk home from his brother's birthday party.

The incident occurred after he mysteriously lay down on a street in East Harlem, as reported by police and relatives on Monday, January 1.

Police reported that the crash resulting in the death of 49-year-old Roberto Eduardo Rodriguez Peterson occurred on December 24 at the intersection of Southeast 14th and Watrous Avenue.

What happened to Roberto Rodriguez?

Roberto Rodriguez was run over by the driver of a 2023 Tesla sedan heading uptown after lying down on Third Ave near E 110th St about 4:30 am on Sunday, December 24 according to a preliminary report by the NYPD's collision investigation squad.

Rodriguez was transported by paramedics to Mount Sinai Morningside, where he ultimately succumbed to his injuries.

The police arrived at the residence of Rodriguez's 21-year-old daughter, Anahi, around six in the morning to deliver the heartbreaking news of her father's passing.

"It felt unreal,"' said Anahi, "I was full of emotions. I never thought of the idea of my dad dying. It didn't feel real." The 25-year-old Tesla driver took off following the crash but returned to the scene a short time later and was not arrested, according to NYPD.

'That's the last time I spoke to my father'

Anahi had been with her dad until a few hours before the tragic crash, leaving him at her uncle's birthday party around 1:30 am, she mentioned.

"That's the last time I spoke to my father," Anahi said. 

Approximately three hours before the tragic incident that claimed his life, Rodriguez was captured smiling in a family photo taken at the celebration.

At the time of the collision, he was just a block away from his East Harlem residence and two blocks from the ongoing celebration.

A police department spokeswoman was unable to provide details on how investigators concluded that Rodriguez had lain down on Third Ave Anahi expressed surprise, stating, "[Police] never mentioned that to us."

She further remarked, "We all assumed my dad was walking down the street and got hit. Now we're wondering why he was lying there."

Her aunt and uncle mentioned that her father appeared fine when he left the celebration. "He had a couple of drinks, but he was still OK," said Anahi. "He wasn't severely drunk."

According to a close acquaintance, Rodriguez was close to Yullisa Menendez, 30, his ex-wife's daughter from a prior relationship, whom he raised as his own. Rodriguez also had a 13-year-old son named Emanuel.