Woman found guilty in fatal DWI crash in 2021

By The Star Staff

Mayra Enid Nevárez Torres was found guilty Thursday in the Caguas Court of driving negligently and while intoxicated, causing the accident that resulted in the death of Justin Santos Delanda, almost three years ago.

The verdict, issued by Judge Wanda Cruz Ayala of the San Juan Court, found Nevárez Torres guilty of violating the Vehicle and Traffic Law by driving under the influence of alcohol and in a reckless manner.

During the trial, Keven Monserrate Gandía, who was accompanying Santos Delanda in the vehicle on the night of the accident and was injured, offered his testimony alongside Priscilla Carrasco Santos, the victim’s sister, who recounted the events that occurred on Nov. 21, 2021 when she arrived at the scene of the tragic incident on the Teodoro Moscoso Bridge.

Forensic pathologist Francisco Cortés Rodríguez, from the Institute of Forensic Sciences, testified that the cause of Santos Delanda’s death was severe head trauma, and confirmed that no traces of alcohol or controlled substances were found in his body.

Prosecutor Luis David Valentín Córdova stressed in his final report that Nevárez Torres had 0.29 percent alcohol in her blood, almost four times the limit allowed by law.

Defense attorney Ramón Nevárez Andino meanwhile tried to question whether his client was really driving the vehicle that caused the accident, in addition to pointing out alleged violations of her rights.

According to the investigation presented at the trial, Nevárez Torres was driving a Hyundai Tucson while intoxicated, in the wrong direction and at excessive speed, hitting the CanAm vehicle in which Santos Delanda was traveling, who died on the spot, while his companion was seriously injured.

Sentencing will be on Nov. 7 at 9:30 a.m.