Corvette, SUV drivers were couple allegedly racing in fiery, fatal El Paso freeway crash
A couple facing manslaughter charges allegedly were racing before a fiery, high-speed freeway crash that killed a motorist in El Paso earlier this month, a state prosecutor said.
A Wednesday bond hearing revealed new details in the deadly collision April 10 in the eastbound lanes of Interstate 10 near The Fountains at Farah shopping center.
Saul Miguel Gutierrez, 24, and Kayla Nuñez, 19, were in separate vehicles but are boyfriend and girlfriend, Assistant District Attorney Adam Chevrier said at an online teleconference bond hearing for Nuñez.
El Paso police said that Gutierrez was driving a Chevrolet Corvette and Nuñez was driving a Chevrolet Tahoe.
The pair allegedly were racing at 5:49 a.m. on the freeway before crashing, Chevrier said.
The Corvette was speeding at 121 mph, while the Tahoe was going 112 mph before each crashed, Chevrier said, citing airbag deployment data pulled from the vehicles by investigators.
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In the accident, Gutierrez lost control of the Corvette, slammed into the center median and came to a stop on the highway, police said.
Chevrier suggested Nuñez was possibly looking back while passing her boyfriend's wrecked Corvette when her SUV rammed into the rear of a Pontiac Vibe, causing the car to slam into a concrete barrier and catch fire.
Both Nuñez and Gutierrez are accused of leaving the scene as the Pontiac driver "dies in flames," Chevrier said.
Police officials have not publicly disclosed the name of the driver who died pending formal identification by the medical examiner.
Nuñez, of Chaparral, New Mexico, and Gutierrez, of Horizon City, have been jailed since April 13 when they were both arrested on charges of manslaughter and accident involving death.
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Bonds for each were set at $750,000 on the manslaughter charge and $850,000 on the accident involving death.
During Wednesday's hearing, Nuñez's attorney Omar Carmona said his client does not have a criminal record and described the bond amount as excessive.
Carmona mentioned without explanation that Nuñez's mental state will be an issue in the case. He also noted her family has received threats in relation to the crash.
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A magistrate judge at the hearing lowered Nuñez's total bond to a $100,000 cash or surety bond, with the remaining amount set as a personal recognizance, which only requires a signature. The conditions of her release include a 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew, except if going to school or work.
An El Paso County Jail log showed Nuñez still was jailed as of Thursday morning. Jail records list Gutierrez as remaining held under the original bond amounts.
Daniel Borunda may be reached at 915-546-6102; dborunda@elpasotimes.com; @BorundaDaniel on Twitter.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Couple allegedly racing on El Paso freeway before fiery, fatal crash
