Woman charged in fatal 370z crash caught on dash cam

Z Ninja · 07-16-2015, 11:16 PM

Harlingen police arrest 21-year-old after deadly crash caught on camera : News : ValleyCentral.com

A Harlingen woman was charged in the fatal crash caught on a dashboard camera, the Harlingen Police Department announced during a news conference on Wednesday.

Keila Nunez-Ortiz , 21, was arrested and charged with manslaughter in the death of a 40-year-old Harlingen woman.

A ‘dash cam’ video released by Advanced Pest Control showed a Nissan 370Z accelerating past vehicles on Harrison Avenue before crashing into another motorist.

Sylvia Mena, 40, was pronounced dead at a hospital in May following the collision on the 2000 block of East Harrison Avenue.

Nunez-Ortiz was behind the wheel of the Nissan, which crashed into a van leaving damage to property nearby, according to the Harlingen Police Department.

The 21-year-old was “traveling at a high-rate of speed, while using her cellular phone and the manner of her driving caused a collision,” the police department said in a news release.

Mena was attempting to cross from 21st Street when Nunez-Ortiz crashed into the van, police said.

Harlingen police officers, crime scene technicians, and members of the Highway Enforcement Unit processed the scene in May.

An “extensive investigation” was conducted, which led authorities to make the arrest, according to police.

“The Harlingen Police Department would like to express its deepest sympathy to Mena’s family,” police said in a news release.

Nunez-Ortiz’s bond was set at $250,000 on the manslaughter charge.

TexasZ34 · 07-16-2015, 11:20 PM

Giving Z drivers a bad name, get off the motherfucking phone and drive your car. Why is this concept so hard for people to understand, A life is now lost because a DB was on the phone instead of paying attention. Sympathy cannot bring that woman back to her loved ones.

Sent from my SM-N910T using Tapatalk

DWS44 · 07-17-2015, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TexasZ34

get off the motherfucking phone and drive your car.

Amen...just last night coming home on I-77 during rush hour. All the sudden, the cars in front of me were swerving and changing lanes all over the place. Four lane interstate, with average traffic speed in the 70s. Turns out the commotion is everyone trying to go around this woman in a Honda Civic playing rolling chicane in the third lane (second to the left). She MIGHT have been going 40 MPH. Seriously.

Sure enough...as I go by I look over and she's just yapping away at her cell phone, looking straight ahead, totally oblivious to her surroundings.

binary0x01 · 07-17-2015, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DWS44

Amen...just last night coming home on I-77 during rush hour. All the sudden, the cars in front of me were swerving and changing lanes all over the place. Four lane interstate, with average traffic speed in the 70s. Turns out the commotion is everyone trying to go around this woman in a Honda Civic playing rolling chicane in the third lane (second to the left). She MIGHT have been going 40 MPH. Seriously.

Sure enough...as I go by I look over and she's just yapping away at her cell phone, looking straight ahead, totally oblivious to her surroundings.

Dood in cali... this is like normal everyday road user experience. insane.

onzedge · 07-17-2015, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TexasZ34

Giving Z drivers a bad name, get off the motherfucking phone and drive your car. Why is this concept so hard for people to understand, A life is now lost because a DB was on the phone instead of paying attention. Sympathy cannot bring that woman back to her loved ones.

Sent from my SM-N910T using Tapatalk

Zbrah · 07-16-2015, 11:27 PM

So tragic. Two lives ruined. It's just not worth it.

cranzy · 07-16-2015, 11:58 PM

That really sucks. A reminder for me, and I hope for everyone, to be cautious when punching the gas pedal on the streets/traffic.

JC-Nismo · 07-17-2015, 12:03 AM

How is it the Z drivers fault if the van pulled out, correct? A bit unclear, but am I missing something.

Magic Bus · 07-17-2015, 01:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JC-Nismo

How is it the Z drivers fault if the van pulled out, correct? A bit unclear, but am I missing something.

Seriously? More than 30 mph over the speed limit on a city street weaving between cars? I really hope you don't drive like this.

onzedge · 07-17-2015, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Magic Bus

Seriously? More than 30 mph over the speed limit on a city street weaving between cars? I really hope you don't drive like this.

Zbrah · 07-17-2015, 12:06 AM

Didn't bother to read the details huh.

JC-Nismo · 07-17-2015, 12:07 AM

Nope

JC-Nismo · 07-17-2015, 01:37 AM

Ok let me be clear, THE VIDEO IS BLURRY AS HELL!!! All I see is a car that seems to hit another vehicle that seems to pull out into traffic!!! Is that what I'm seeing???

kenchan · 07-17-2015, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JC-Nismo

Ok let me be clear, THE VIDEO IS BLURRY AS HELL!!! All I see is a car that seems to hit another vehicle that seems to pull out into traffic!!! Is that what I'm seeing???

yah, im kinda wondering too how they came up with 30mph..?

sorry to both families.

Magic Bus · 07-17-2015, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JC-Nismo

Hate to say it, but this case is gonna flop!!! Any good lawyer will eat this case up cause the manslaughter charge won't stick with Gorilla Glue. Reckless driving or not, the victim pulled into on coming traffic unless there a stop sign that's not visible in the video. I don't know what the laws are in that state, but back home in Jersey where I've seen this about a dozen times, if you pull into oncoming traffic it's your fault regardless of the speed. One time a car hit an ambulance that blew through the intersection with it's lights flashing, but never slowed down and looked for oncoming traffic, needless to say it got T- Boned and flipped over. They charged the driver saying the ambulance always has the right of way. Went to trial and got thrown out based on witness testimony that ambulance never looked or slow for oncoming traffic. The driver in return sued the city and won a 6 figure payout. This is horrific either way and prayers to both family's, but am I wrong and if so please correct me.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 37zeroZ

The 370Z driver had the right of way regardless if she was going over the speed limit and using her cell phone. Suppose the 370Z driver died instead of the other woman, would that woman be charged with manslaughter for driving into oncoming traffic.

Do both of you honestly feel that if you were to drive 60 mph in a 25 mph zone and you hit a car coming out of cross street or a pedestrian crossing a street that you'd have no liability?

The police did not prosecute her earlier because even though they did have the video evidence of her speeding, they can't be exact and factual about her speed. This in itself may not be strong enough to convict the driver. However you combine this video evidence with the fact that she was on her cell phone, now the prosecuting attorney's office has a strong case against her.

07-16-2015, 11:16 PM	#1 (permalink)
Z Ninja Base Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Lake Stevens, WA Posts: 58 Drives: 14 370Z BLK 6MT Rep Power: 11	Woman charged in fatal 370z crash caught on dash cam Harlingen police arrest 21-year-old after deadly crash caught on camera : News : ValleyCentral.com A Harlingen woman was charged in the fatal crash caught on a dashboard camera, the Harlingen Police Department announced during a news conference on Wednesday. Keila Nunez-Ortiz , 21, was arrested and charged with manslaughter in the death of a 40-year-old Harlingen woman. A ‘dash cam’ video released by Advanced Pest Control showed a Nissan 370Z accelerating past vehicles on Harrison Avenue before crashing into another motorist. Sylvia Mena, 40, was pronounced dead at a hospital in May following the collision on the 2000 block of East Harrison Avenue. Nunez-Ortiz was behind the wheel of the Nissan, which crashed into a van leaving damage to property nearby, according to the Harlingen Police Department. The 21-year-old was “traveling at a high-rate of speed, while using her cellular phone and the manner of her driving caused a collision,” the police department said in a news release. Mena was attempting to cross from 21st Street when Nunez-Ortiz crashed into the van, police said. Harlingen police officers, crime scene technicians, and members of the Highway Enforcement Unit processed the scene in May. An “extensive investigation” was conducted, which led authorities to make the arrest, according to police. “The Harlingen Police Department would like to express its deepest sympathy to Mena’s family,” police said in a news release. Nunez-Ortiz’s bond was set at $250,000 on the manslaughter charge.

07-16-2015, 11:20 PM	#2 (permalink)
TexasZ34 Base Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Houston, Tx Posts: 78 Drives: 10 40TH 370Z KAV M6 Rep Power: 14	Giving Z drivers a bad name, get off the motherfucking phone and drive your car. Why is this concept so hard for people to understand, A life is now lost because a DB was on the phone instead of paying attention. Sympathy cannot bring that woman back to her loved ones. Sent from my SM-N910T using Tapatalk Trips, UNKNOWN_370, onzedge and 9 others like this. __________________ Last edited by TexasZ34; 07-16-2015 at 11:22 PM.

07-16-2015, 11:27 PM	#6 (permalink)
Zbrah A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2013 Location: The370Z.com Posts: 4,956 Drives: 370Z Rep Power: 5452	So tragic. Two lives ruined. It's just not worth it. __________________

07-17-2015, 12:03 AM	#8 (permalink)
JC-Nismo A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Atlanta Posts: 1,244 Drives: 2011 Nismo 370z Rep Power: 13	How is it the Z drivers fault if the van pulled out, correct? A bit unclear, but am I missing something. Haboob likes this.

07-17-2015, 12:06 AM	#11 (permalink)
Zbrah A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2013 Location: The370Z.com Posts: 4,956 Drives: 370Z Rep Power: 5452	Didn't bother to read the details huh. onzedge and DavidZ370 like this. __________________

07-16-2015, 11:58 PM	#7 (permalink)
cranzy Base Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Seattle Posts: 108 Drives: 370z Rep Power: 11	That really sucks. A reminder for me, and I hope for everyone, to be cautious when punching the gas pedal on the streets/traffic.

07-17-2015, 12:07 AM	#12 (permalink)
JC-Nismo A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Atlanta Posts: 1,244 Drives: 2011 Nismo 370z Rep Power: 13	Nope

07-17-2015, 01:37 AM	#13 (permalink)
JC-Nismo A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Atlanta Posts: 1,244 Drives: 2011 Nismo 370z Rep Power: 13	Ok let me be clear, THE VIDEO IS BLURRY AS HELL!!! All I see is a car that seems to hit another vehicle that seems to pull out into traffic!!! Is that what I'm seeing???

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