Vega Trial Day Four Brings Emotional Testimony
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Testimony turned emotional Friday on day four of the Randy Vega trial inside Judge Boyd Patterson’s courtroom, where jurors heard from the medical examiner before the defense continued presenting its case in the November 2023 Frazier Avenue crash that killed Ana Posso Rodriguez and her 1-year-old son, Jonathan.
The prosecution called their final witness Hamilton County Medical Examiner Dr. Steven Cogswell testified about autopsies performed on both victims.
He told the court the mother died from multiple blunt force injuries, while the child died from a blunt force head injury. Cogswell also testified the child was likely being held by his mother at the time of the crash.
At one point during testimony, surviving father Octavio Devia Paz stepped out of the courtroom.
Later in the day, the defense called forensic engineer Gary Kilpatrick with The Kilpatrick Group, who was qualified as an expert in accident reconstruction. Kilpatrick testified he reviewed crash video and pre-crash vehicle data as part of his analysis.
He told jurors the vehicles appeared to be traveling at similar speeds and said the crash would not have occurred if the other driver had slowed or yielded. Kilpatrick also testified he assigned no responsibility to Vega in the collision.
Prosecutors challenged Kilpatrick’s analysis during cross-examination, questioning his experience with crashes involving multiple vehicles and pedestrians.
By the end of the day, both the state and defense had rested their cases. Randy Vega also formally waived his right to testify in his own defense.
Closing arguments are scheduled for 9:15AM Monday. The case is expected to move toward jury deliberations following court proceedings.
