LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — A person who drove drunk at 140 mph and killed one other driver, splitting his automobile in two, will serve not less than 4 years in jail, a choose dominated Thursday.
On March 22, 2024, Charlie Hernandez was rushing in a Dodge Challenger on Las Vegas Boulevard close to Cheyenne Avenue when he struck a Hyundai Accent turning from Walnut Highway onto the boulevard. The pressure of the crash brought about the Hyundai to separate into two components and the Challenger to roll over, police mentioned.
Luciano Chavez, 38, the driving force of Hyundai, died within the crash. A passenger suffered substantial accidents, police mentioned on the time.
Investigators reviewing the Challenger’s inner pc discovered the automobile was touring at 140 mph about three seconds earlier than the airbags deployed, paperwork mentioned. Hernandez was allegedly urgent the accelerator at full throttle. One millisecond earlier than the crash, the automobile was touring at 127 mph.
A marshal handcuffs Charlie Hernandez after Clark County District Courtroom Choose Bita Yeager sentenced him to 4-12 years in jail. (KLAS)
“We MUST do higher, Clark County!” Metro police posted on social media after the crash. “Households are struggling because of reckless decisions! It’s time to place an END to this tragedy!”
Final 12 months, Hernandez took a plea deal on a cost of DUI leading to demise. As a part of the deal, a choose would sentence him to jail, however prosecutors wouldn’t have the precise to argue for a particular sentence. State legislation requires judges to condemn offenders of DUI leading to demise to jail for not less than two years with a most of 20 years. The legislation stipulates the utmost period of time a DUI-with-death offender could be in jail earlier than a parole listening to is eight years.
A invoice handed in 2023, generally known as Rex’s Legislation, elevated jail time to a most of 10 years for drivers going greater than 50 miles per hour over the velocity restrict in a deadly crash. It was beforehand six years.
In court docket Thursday, Clark County District Courtroom Choose Bita Yeager sentenced Hernandez to 4-12 years.
“I tousled. I want I may take each again, however I do know I can’t,” Hernandez instructed Yeager earlier than she sentenced him. Hernandez added he believed he was the least impaired in a bunch of individuals after a celebration and made a poor resolution.
Luciano Chavez died within the crash on March 22, 2024. Chavez got here to the US from Guatemala and was working as a chef, his household mentioned. (Angelica Chavez)
Hernandez lately grew to become a father and had no legal document earlier than the crash, he and his legal professional instructed the choose.
Chavez immigrated to the US from Guatemala and was working as a chef, his household mentioned. His two brothers spoke in Spanish with the assistance of a translator.
“He was driving 140 miles per hour, which is unacceptable,” Geronimo Chavez mentioned. “I additionally drive however not even on the freeway would I am going at that velocity.”
“When a son loses a spouse, he turns into a widower. When a son loses a guardian, he turns into an orphan. However there’s no identify for this kind of demise,” Cesar Chavez mentioned.
The crash was so violent, it break up Luciano Chavez’s automobile in half. (KLAS)
Chavez’ niece, Angelica Chavez, relayed the significance of justice when another person takes an individual’s life.
“We all the time attempt to look to the long run and when it’s fully lower brief from of the actions of another person really I really feel like there ought to be justice,” she mentioned.
Earlier than saying her resolution, Yeager mentioned the 140-mile-per-hour quantity caught out among the many DUI circumstances she sees.
“I don’t suppose that that is the kind of case the place the minimums are applicable,” she mentioned.
With credit score for time served, Hernandez might be eligible for parole in 2029. His household cried within the courtroom as Yeager delivered her sentence.
8 Information Now Investigator David Charns could be reached at dcharns@8newsnow.com.
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