Charges Filed Against Drunk Driver of Fatal Crash

Charges Filed Against Drunk Driver of Fatal Crash


Save Story
Leer en espaƱol

Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes

This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.

Sandra Yi Reporting The three surviving member of the Ceran family are back home and now facing the slow rebuilding and recovery process.

But they won't be doing it alone. Benefit efforts for the family have already exceeded expectations.

Gary Ceran, his daughter Clarissa and son Caleb were all in "A Christmas Story" at the Hale Center Theater. The theatre community is very tight. When two benefit shows to raise money for the family sold out they didn't want it to stop there.

The man who hit the Ceran family has been charged.

There were only smiles when Clarissa Ceran came home from the hospital yesterday.

Her father and brother, who also survived the crash, welcomed her.

Charges Filed Against Drunk Driver of Fatal Crash

Gary Ceran, Car Crash Victim: "They say that only those who know the deepest sorrow can know the deepest rapture, and the joy of having them here is just made that much greater by the losses that we had."

Prosecutors today charged the man accused of hitting and killing Gary's wife, son Ian and daughter Julianna, on Christmas Eve.

Charging documents say Prieto voluntarily told officers, he drank five beers. Preliminary blood tests showed his blood alcohol level was above the legal limit.

Immigration officials believe Prieto is also in the country illegally.

Gary Ceran has compassion, not anger, for the man. Friends say that's inspiring.

Dave Petersen, Family Friend: "It only took watching those interviews with Gary to teach me that my attitude needed to change."

Petersen, his daughter Ashley and friend JaNae Cottam acted with some of the Cerans at the Hale Center Theatre.

Ashley Petersen, Family Friend: "I went in my room and cried when I found out that Julianna had died, because she was such a special child."

Two benefit performances to raise money for the family sold out so quickly, the theatre added a third show for Saturday.

JaNae Cottam, Family Friend: "It's been a boon to all of us to recognize that charity is there."

Funeral services have been scheduled for Saturday.

Prieto's first court appearance is on January 2nd.

Related links

Most recent Utah stories

Related topics

Utah
KSL.com Beyond Series

KSL Weather Forecast

KSL Weather Forecast
Play button