Teen Gets 6 Years For Rock Hill Street Race That Killed 2
The Latest (10/4/21):
A teen has been ordered to serve six years in prison for killing two people in a crash that prosecutors said happened during an illegal street race in Rock Hill.
Justin Rafael Valdez, 19, pleaded guilty Thursday to two counts of reckless homicide in the Feb. 20 wreck in Rock Hill that killed a chiropractor and his wife, a news outlet reported.
Valdez and his lawyers said he was not street racing, but did say he was speeding and weaving in and out of traffic before the head-on wreck on a Saturday evening on state Highway 161 — one of Rock Hill’s busiest roads.
Valdez was driving at 95 mph (153 kph) just seconds before the wreck and witnesses and surveillance video showed he was racing someone who has not been identified, prosecutors said.
“The roads are not a NASCAR course. The end result is going to be fatal, said 16th Circuit Solicitor Kevin Brackett, who said Valdez had other speeding tickets in just a few years of driving.
The crash killed Donald and Teresa Hewetson, whose family asked the judge to sentence Valdez to the maximum of 20 years. Judge Brian Gibbons agreed to the maximum 20 years, but suspended the sentence to six years behind bars as long as Valdez completes three years of probation.
A passenger in Valdez’s car also was injured.
Valdez apologized to the family of the husband and wife he killed and his lawyers asked for mercy because he made a thoughtless mistake.
“What we have here is a young man who for two or three minutes out of his life, made a terrible mistake,” defense attorney Montrio Belton said. “This is a caring, Christian young man.”
Original Story (2/23/21):
ROCK HILL, S.C. — A 19-year-old man has been charged with reckless homicide after a three-vehicle crash in Rock Hill Saturday night that left two people dead and another seriously injured.
Police say the suspect, Justin Valdez, was street racing.
The crash happened around 8:30 p.m. on Celanese Road near Woodcrest Circle.
Rock Hill officers responded to the collision and upon arrival located the three vehicles that were involved: an Infiniti Q50, a Nissan Pathfinder and a Chevrolet Equinox.
During the investigation, it was determined the Infiniti was recklessly driven by Justin Valdez. Police say Valdez lost control of the vehicle and crossed into oncoming traffic, hitting the Equinox. Valdez’s car was then struck by the Pathfinder.
According to Rock Hill Police, the 18-year-old woman in Valdez’s vehicle suffered serious injury and is in critical but stable condition.
Dr. Donald Hewetson, a Chiropractor, and his wife Teresa were killed in the crash.
Three occupants in the Pathfinder suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
Valdez suffered minor injuries in the collision and was transported to Piedmont Medical Center. Police said, after being treated, Valdez was arrested and charged with reckless homicide.
According to police, Valdez was served a second warrant for reckless homicide after the death of the Donald Hewetson.
He was released from jail on a $50,000 bond.
