Nathan Valencia, a 30-year-old man, pleaded not guilty to two counts of second degree murder after he witnessed a car accident and failed to tell authorities.
Valencia was driving an Infiniti G37 when he was seen street racing a Honda Civic on Stockdale Highway in Bakersfield. Both of the vehicles were traveling above 100 mph at the time of the incident.
The Civic tried to pass another vehicle traveling along the highway before it lost control and hit a traffic signal pole. The accident killed both the driver and the passenger.
The passenger was a 23-year-old woman named Carmen Romero Vidal. She was rushed to a nearby hospital and pronounced deceased from blunt force trauma. The driver’s name has not been released, but he was pronounced dead two days later from brain injury.
At the time of the accident, Valencia heard a loud noise and parked around the corner to text a friend about what had happened. He did not notify police until a month later when he found out about the investigation. He received word that police were going through surveillance footage from the scene.
He talked to investigators at the Bakersfield Police Department and told them he did not come forward because he was scared his vehicle would get impounded. Investigators found illegal modifications on his Infiniti to increase its speed.
Valencia claimed they were not racing, but witnesses have come forward stating that both vehicles were traveling at very high speeds and Valencia was the one to initiate the race. There were videos recovered on his phone that showed evidence of him in multiple illegal speed races.
Valencia is being held on a $2 million bond.
What to do if you have been injured in a car accident
It is important to contact an attorney that can help you find out your legal rights and entitlements when you have been injured. An attorney can help you with a personal injury lawsuit and help you get the compensation you deserve. The Accident Injury Legal Center can find someone that is qualified to help you with your case.
Contact the Accident Injury Legal Center at 1-866-255-4870.
Resource
Kotowski, J. (2022, May 9). Vehicles raced at 100 mph in double-fatal crash: reports. KGET. Retrieved May 10, 2022, from https://www.kget.com/news/crime-watch/vehicles-raced-at-100-mph-in-double-fatal-crash-reports/