Driver arrested in Idaho Falls crash that killed 6 people was drunk, says prosecutor

IDAHO FALLS – A man charged pinch causing a clang that killed six group was allegedly driving nether nan power of alcohol.

According to a news merchandise from Bonneville County Prosecutor Randy Neal, nan authorities has requested to amend nan criminal title against Luis Garcia-Diaz, 26.

Garcia-Diaz, of Rexburg, was charged pinch six counts of felony vehicular manslaughter related to a clang connected U.S. 20 connected May 18.

Neal says nan amendment is based connected further grounds received done nan Idaho State Police investigation, which “indicates nan suspect was operating his conveyance nether nan power of alcohol.”

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The amendment will not alteration nan complaint but will let for a maximum condemnation of 15 years successful situation connected each count.

“The original charges were based connected grounds collected astatine nan scene, but a humor intoxicant level has now been established by grounds received by nan State Police done nan work of hunt warrants,” Neal says.

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EastIdahoNews.com has requested much accusation from Idaho State Police regarding nan circumstances of nan clang and its occupants.

Background

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Bonneville County Coroner Rick Taylor identified nan deceased arsenic Abel Mejía Martínez, 43, Pedro Manuel Alcantar Mejía, 26, Brandon Ponce Gallegos, 24, Jose Guadalupe Sánchez Medina, 20, Luis Enrique Sereno Perez, 32 and Javier Gomez Alcantar, 36.

All were from Mexico, but it is not clear from what area. The investigation continues to find Garcia-Diaz’s migration status.

“The driver of nan van, on pinch 5 different passengers successful nan van, succumbed to their injuries astatine nan segment of nan crash,” nan merchandise stated. “Nine different passengers of nan van were injured and transported to a section infirmary via crushed ambulances.”

The 9 surviving passengers successful nan van were taken to area hospitals, and their conditions are unknown.

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The pickup’s driver, Garcia-Diaz, was besides transported to a infirmary for treatment.

Both lanes were closed for 5 and a half hours, and nan westbound lane remained blocked for different hr arsenic Idaho State Police, Idaho Falls Police Department, Idaho Falls Fire Department, and Idaho Transportation Department responded to nan scene.

Though Garcia-Diaz has been charged pinch these crimes, it does not needfully mean he committed them. Everyone is presumed guiltless until they are proven guilty.

If convicted, Garcia-Diaz could look up to 90 years successful prison. He is scheduled to look for a preliminary proceeding connected June 7.