Automobile homicide charges filed in crash that killed 3

Automobile homicide charges filed in crash that killed 3

(Hugh Carey, Deseret News)


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SALT LAKE CITY — Investigators say the man accused of killing three people in a car chase that ended in a crash near the airport in May had beer and marijuana in the car with him.

Jonathan Ulises Analco-Cruz, 23, was charged in 3rd District Court on Tuesday with three counts of automobile homicide and failure to stop for officers resulting in death, all second-degree felonies, as well as a third-degree felony forgery charge and a class C misdemeanor charge for driving on a suspended license.

On May 17, an officer attempted to pull over a Volkswagen Passat driven by Cruz when the car was spotted going 60 mph in a 35 mph area at the airport. The officer stopped the chase and pulled over, turning off his lights, when speeds became excessive and the car started swerving between lanes on I-80, charges state.

As he drove back to the airport, the officer spotted a cloud of dust and found the Passat crashed and laying on its roof near the I-215 ramp.

Cruz was found on the ground and three passengers dead inside the car. Cruz's girlfriend, Michaela Martin, 18, of Taylorsville, was killed in the crash, sitting in the front seat. Hardinger Cruz, 17, of Salt Lake City, and Randy Ruiz, 14, of Midvale were killed in the back seat.

An accident reconstruction indicated the car was going 103 mph when it lost control, charges state. Marijuana and an empty beer can were found in the wreckage.

Toxicology reports showed Cruz's blood-alcohol level at 0.21 and indicated THC in his system, charges state. He was carrying a fake Social Security card.

Court records show a 3rd District judge issued a warrant for Cruz's arrest May 8 after he failed to pay a fine and complete a driver education course for driving on a suspended license and driving without a license in April 2013.

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