Trial Ordered in Hawthorne Crash Death
A Modesto man has been ordered to stand trial on charges of vehicular manslaughter and drunk driving in a fiery rear-end crash in Hawthorne in which a woman was killed.
Prosecutors said Juan Camacho, 29, had a blood alcohol reading of .19 after the July 11 crash, more than twice the legal limit. Motorists in California are considered legally drunk at .08.
Camacho, a farm laborer returning to his job in Northern California, had been visiting relatives before the crash. Family members said he had split a case of beer with his brother before heading home.
Witnesses told police that Camacho may have been driving his 1978 Datsun more than 65 m.p.h. when he rear-ended a 1984 Thunderbird being driven by Aljerriah Williams, 53. Williams’ car burst into flames and she was killed.
Camacho was ordered to appear Aug. 13 in Torrance Superior Court for arraignment. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in state prison.
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