A Nevada adolescent driving 100 mph in a 45 mph zone caused a “intentional” 12-car disaster with his Infiniti after colliding with vehicles halted at a red light, police said. His pregnant girlfriend and an additional driver were slain.
“He was not impaired by alcohol or drugs,” Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson told reporters on Friday of 19-year-old suspect Jose Gutierrez, according to local NBC affiliate KSNV.
“Therefore, 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 informed the jury. “All indications are that there was no braking before the collision, and that by itself gives rise to a degree of intentional conduct.”
Gutierrez appeared in court Friday, and his bail hearing was postponed after a brief hearing, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. He is suspected of triggering the 12-car incident at West Cheyenne Avenue and North Jones Boulevard last Tuesday.
Police said Gutierrez was driving a silver 2011 Infiniti G37 with his pregnant girlfriend, Adilene Rincon, 20, as a passenger. He smashed into several automobiles stopped at a red signal, killing another driver, Edward Garcia, 38, who died on the spot.
“Several others were transported to UMC Trauma, including one person in life-threatening condition and another in serious condition,” Las Vegas Metro Police stated in a Facebook post Thursday.
Investigators discovered a marijuana vaporizer in one of Gutierrez’s pockets following the crash, but authorities claim he was not inebriated at the time. Gutierrez was first charged with four counts of careless driving resulting in death or significant bodily harm, but his charges were raised to open murder, attempted murder, and battery with a deadly weapon.
According to court records obtained by local ABC station KTNV, Gutierrez was penalized for speeding in October when police caught him driving 52 mph in a 35 mph zone. He was also detained in April for harassing a police officer who was responding to a report of a lady saying Gutierrez had hit her.
“What’s up foo,” Gutierrez allegedly asked the cop.
“I’ll f—ing shoot you,” he said, according to court filings. “I’ll kill you.”
Gutierrez’s arraignment is scheduled for January 6.
