Prosecutors Say Teen Driver Acted Intentionally in 12-Car Crash That Killed Two

Clark County prosecutors say a 19-year-old man accused of causing a major crash earlier this week acted intentionally when he drove into multiple vehicles stopped at a red light. District Attorney Steve Wolfson said investigators currently have no indication that the driver, Jose Gutierrez, was under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the collision.

Wolfson noted that video evidence and other findings suggest Gutierrez had a clear view of the stopped traffic and made no attempt to brake before impact. He said those details support the decision to file murder charges, though the investigation remains ongoing and a motive has not yet been determined.

Gutierrez was arrested following the Nov. 18 crash at Cheyenne Avenue and Jones Boulevard. The collision involved 12 vehicles and resulted in the deaths of his passenger, 20-year-old Adilene Duran Rincon, and another driver, 38-year-old Edward Garcia. A third person was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries.

An arrest report states that witnesses observed Gutierrez driving at high speeds before the crash. Investigators also found a marijuana vape pen in his pocket, and officers noted physical signs that led them to suspect possible impairment.

Gutierrez made his initial court appearance Friday, where a judge ruled there was probable cause for the arrest and ordered him held without bail until a custody hearing scheduled for Nov. 25.

Original source: Las Vegas Review-Journal.