Drunk driver hit and killed a motorist while speeding at 140 mph on the Las Vegas Strip, police reveal
Police say a drunken driver recently crashed into another vehicle while traveling at speeds of up to 140 miles per hour on the Las Vegas Strip. The impact split another vehicle in half, killing the other driver and injuring a passenger.
The drunk driver, Charlie Hernandez, 28, was arrested last week, police said. He is scheduled to appear in court in May on charges of driving while intoxicated causing death, driving while intoxicated causing serious bodily injury and reckless driving, Las Vegas television station KLAS reported Thursday.
On March 22, Hernandez was driving a Dodge Challenger southbound on the Las Vegas Strip when it crashed into a Hyundai Accent near the intersection of Walnut Road.
Police say the accent actually split in half. The Challenger overturned before coming to rest on the road, KLAS reported.
One person died and one person was seriously injured
When police first arrived at the scene, Hernandez had already exited the vehicle.
His passenger, Kevin Portillo-Torres, 29, was inside the damaged Challenger and was unable to escape. He also suffered life-threatening injuries, Las Vegas television station KSNV reported.
Las Vegas firefighters who were trapped in the car arrived and eventually rescued him. Once he was released, he was taken to University Hospital.
Doctors there treated multiple injuries underneath his body, such as a fractured femur, KSNV reported.
As of this weekend, police had not received an update on Portillo-Torres' status.
Accent driver Luciano Chavez Y Chavez, 38, also suffered serious injuries. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, but doctors were unable to save his life. He was pronounced dead soon after.
Hernandez did not appear to be seriously injured and was also taken to University Medical Center. Hernandez was released after a medical examination.
He later told police the Challenger belonged to Portillo-Torres. Portillo-Torres needed a ride home because he had also been drinking, so Hernandez took over the wheel.
I messed up. "I said a curse word," Hernandez told an officer after his arrest. "I was driving and I had an accident."
When Hernandez first spoke to police, he didn't even seem to know what street he was on, KSNV reported. He thought he was on Craig Road.
Hernandez also failed a field sobriety test, which tells police if someone is intoxicated, KSNV reported.
Police also examined Challenger's computers after the fatal accident. Police said Hernandez was driving at 140 mph three seconds before impact and put his foot on the accelerator to the floor. That's more than three times the posted speed limit of 45 miles per hour.
His car was traveling 127 mph at the time of the collision, according to internal computer data.
Hernandez is being held at the Clark County Detention Center. He appeared in a local court last weekend.
Judge Daniel Westmeyer set Hernandez's bond at $50,000. He was released on bail.
Order not to drive
As a condition of his release, Hernandez is prohibited from operating a motor vehicle. He was also ordered to wear a bracelet that monitors alcohol consumption.
Hernandez was reportedly drinking at a friend's house shortly before the fatal crash.
The fatal crash attracted the attention of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) social media pages.
Clark County, we must do better! ” the LVMPD website states. “Families are suffering because of reckless decisions! It's time to end this tragedy! "
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Source: www.casino.org
