EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) – A 38-year-old man was sentenced to seven years in prison on Wednesday, Oct. 16, for voluntary manslaughter in a motorcycle crash that happened in 2022, the Third Judicial District Attorney’s Office for the State of New Mexico announced in a press release.
Jason Salais, 38, was found guilty by a Las Cruces jury of voluntary manslaughter. At the trial, Salais was acquitted by the jury of first-degree murder and second-degree murder charges, according to the press release.
On Feb. 25, 2022, Las Cruces Police officers were dispatched to a vehicle and motorcycle crash at University Avenue near Knox Street.
Officers were informed that the victim, Jose Gomez, died from his injuries at the scene, according to the news release.
The Third Judicial District Attorney’s Office said that in the investigation, witnesses described it initially appeared that a motorcycle and SUV were racing. Then, the SUV driven by Salais was seen making a U-turn at Espina Street and University Avenue and struck a vehicle while attempting to speed after the motorcycle.
Salais was speeding on the opposite side of the roadway, running a red light toward the motorcycle and hitting it, according to the news release.
After hitting the motorcycle, the SUV crashed into other vehicles in the roadway.
The Third Judicial District Attorney’s Office did not say if anyone else was injured.
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