A Nevada teen is accused of intentionally causing the deadly 12-car collision that killed his pregnant girlfriend and another driver when he slammed into the vehicles going 100 mph.
Jose Gutierrez, 19, was neither under the influence of drugs nor alcohol when he raced through the streets of Las Vegas on Nov. 18 in a 45 mph zone, Clarke County District Attorney Steve Wolfson told reporters.
The DA also stressed that the evidence showed that Gutierrez made no attempts to brake before the crash that killed his passenger, Adilene Duran Rincon, 20, and another driver, Edward Garcia, 38.
“We believe based on all of the evidence to date — including a very descriptive video — that his actions were intentional, which gives rise to a charge of murder,” Wolfson said.
Gutierrez was driving in a silver 2011 Infiniti G37 with Rincon, who was pregnant, when he slammed into a row of cars that were stopped at a red light at the intersection of Cheyenne Avenue and North Jones Boulevard, local KSNV reported.
Rincon and Garcia died at the scene, and a third victim was rushed to a nearby hospital after suffering life-threatening injuries, police said.
Police found a marijuana vape on Gutierrez in the aftermath of the crash and officers claimed the suspect had bloodshot eyes during the arrest.
But the district attorney said the driver was not impaired at the time of the collision.
That revelation led prosecutors to upgrade the charges against Gutierrez from reckless driving resulting in death or substantial bodily harm to murder, attempted murder, and battery with use of a deadly weapon.
Gutierrez was driving a car registered to Rincon’s mother on the day of the crash, officials noted.
Last Tuesday’s crash wasn’t the first for Gutierrez, with court records indicating that he also crashed into an elderly woman back in September when he ran a stop sign, KTNV reported.
The 19-year-old also received a speeding ticket last month after he was caught going 52 mph in a 35 mph zone.
Back in April, police arrested Gutierrez after he allegedly intimidated a public officer responding to a call from a woman who claimed a man had hit her.
When the officer arrived, Gutierrez allegedly threatened the cop, telling him, “I’ll f—king shoot you,” and “I’ll kill you.”
Gutierrez is now being held without bail. He’s due back in court on Jan. 6 for his arraignment hearing.
