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Driver Charged In Sheriffs Recruits Crash

A dark SUV at a stop on a sidewalk has a severely crumpled hood.
An SUV involved in a morning crash Wednesday, Nov. 16 2022, is examined by law enforcement. Officials said the driver of the vehicle that crashed into a training run for law enforcement recruits had a negative field sobriety test.
(
Frederic J. Brown
/
AFP via Getty Images
)

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Topline:

The man arrested for driving his vehicle into a group of LA County Sheriff's department recruits has been charged with vehicular manslaughter.

What happened: Nicholas Gutierrez has been charged with two counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and nine counts of reckless driving on a highway causing a specified injury.

The backstory: The crash happened nearly a year ago, while the recruits were on an early morning training run in South Whittier. Gutierrez was allegedly crossing into the northbound lanes when he crashed into the group. One of the recruits, Alejandro Martinez-Inzunza, died from his injuries eight months after the crash. 24 others were injured.

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What's next: Gutierrez is scheduled to be arraigned on Tuesday, Nov. 14 and could face up to 12 years in prison if convicted.

Go deeper: Driver In Whittier Car Crash That Injured 25 Sheriff And Police Recruits Is Arrested, Then Released

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