The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office announced Tuesday afternoon that county attorney Rachel Mitchell had remanded a criminal complaint filed by Goodyear police in a fatal pickup accident involving 19 cyclists.
In a statement, Mitchell said, “The death and injury of two cyclists that morning is an unimaginable tragedy. Police need time to complete their investigation.” It is important that a full investigation is completed and made available to prosecutors for review before it is brought down and triggers legal time constraints.”
Mitchell’s remand of the charges back to police gives investigators more time to gather additional evidence and witness testimony for prosecutors to make prosecution decisions. .
Mitchell’s announcement Came the day after Goodyear officials held a press conference They just identified Saturday morning’s crash as Karen Marisa, 61, of Goodyear, who was pronounced dead at the scene, and David Kello, 65, who died in hospital after visiting from Michigan. The clash left 17 people with minor to life-threatening injuries.
Police arrested 26-year-old Pedro Quintana Lujan at around 7:57 am after he crashed into a group of cyclists while driving his truck south on the Cotton Lane Bridge. Quintana-Lujan told police that the steering wheel was locked when the vehicle swerved to the right and began crashing into the cyclist, according to court documents.
Officers took Quintana Lujan to prison on two counts of manslaughter, three counts of aggravated assault, 18 counts of endangering conduct and two counts of serious injury or death for a traffic violation. He was being held on $250,000 bail until Mitchell remanded the charges back to Goodyear Police and was released from prison on Tuesday.
catch up:Here’s what we know about the fatal Goodyear bike accident
Goodyear Police Chief Santiago Rodriguez said on monday There was no indication that Quintana-Lujan intended to crash into a group of cyclists, nor was it known whether speed or disability were factors. He added that samples had been obtained.It is not known when blood test results will be available.
Quintana-Lujan told police he was a contractor en route from Chandler to the scene, according to court documents. He told investigators he had been smoking marijuana with his wife about 11 hours before the crash.
Please contact reporter Perry Vandell at 602-444-2474 or perry.vandell@gannett.com. follow him on twitter @Perry Vandel.
This article originally appeared in the Republic of Arizona. MCAO remands criminal charges to police in deadly Goodyear crash
