EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — A 33-year-old Las Cruces man has been charged with homicide by vehicle and other related charges to a drunk driving crash that resulted in 2 people dead on December 22, 2022, according to the New Mexico Office of the Third Judicial District Attorney.
Nicholas Gurrola pleaded guilty to two counts of homicide by vehicle (DWI), one count of great bodily harm (DWI), leaving the scene of an accident, failure to maintain traffic lane, and no proof of insurance and was sentenced to 19 years in prison, according to the District Attorney’s Office. According to the District Attorney’s office, the judge suspended four years for a total of 15 years.
Las Cruces Police officers were called to a crash at 8:36 p.m. on Thursday, December 22, 2022, on the corner of Spruce Ave. and Virginia St., according to the District Attorney’s Office.
According to the District Attorney’s Office, Gurrola was driving at a speed of over 75 miles per hour when he veered into oncoming traffic and crashed head-on with another vehicle traveling westbound on Spruce Ave.
Gurrola was seen stumbling out of his vehicle and running away from the crash. Witnesses ran and detained Gurrola until police arrived, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
The driver of the other vehicle and passenger died at the scene, and a third passenger was flown to El Paso Medical Center with severe injuries, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
According to the District Attorney’s Office, a two-year-old child in their car seat did not suffer injuries from the crash.
Gurrola failed a field sobriety test, and his vehicle had no proof of insurance.
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