In the picture shared across the news, Damaso Puente and his wife Christa Puente are laughing joyfully. Each of them appears young, vibrant, and with kind, loving eyes. Close friends share that the couple was planning on starting a family soon.
Las Vegas DUI Crash Claims 2 Lives
But sadly, Damaso, 39, a commercial film producer, and Christa, 33, a nurse, will not be able to live out their dream of becoming parents—or any other of their dreams. The couple was killed on May 15th while sitting in their car at a red light on the corner of Hualapai and Sahara.
It was a Tuesday night. Perhaps Damasco and Christa had just finished dinner. Maybe they were on their way home to unwind. They may have been discussing work, a future vacation, or their favorite Netflix show. No one will know the final thoughts or conversation between the husband and wife, the last looks they shared with each other, the final emotions that surged through their hearts before they stopped beating.
What Were the Events of This Tragic DUI Crash
As Damasco and Christa sat in their Toyota Prius, stopped at a red light on that seemingly ordinary Tuesday night, a Mercedes traveling at 100 miles per hour suddenly rear-ended them. The impact sent their Toyota over 220 feet and causing the couple to die instantly on the spot due to blunt force injuries.
The man responsible for the tragedy claims he “doesn’t remember” the crash at all.
Severe Signs of Intoxication
Henry Aparicio, 23, may not remember the crash, but the friends and family members of the deceased victims will never forget Henry. Aparicio was driving drunk from Downtown Summerlin on the night he smashed his red Mercedes into the Puentes. Police said Aparicio’s eyes were bloodshot and watery and that he was emitting an “odor of an alcoholic beverage.” His speech was slurred, confused, and mumbled; the officer’s body camera caught and recorded Aparicio’s degenerate behaviors.
Henry Aparicio now faces up to 60 years behind bars. He was charged with two counts of driving under the influence resulting in death, one count of driving under the influence resulting in substantial bodily harm, and three counts of reckless driving resulting in death or substantial bodily harm. His bail is set at $500,000. According to a Las Vegas DIU lawyer, these are among the most serious charges in a DUI case due to the tragic nature of the circumstances.
Other Passengers in The Mercedes
It was not only the Puentes that were tragically affected by this incident; Aparicio’s own girlfriend was a passenger in his car at the time of the crash. 23-year-old Morgan Hurley was injured and taken to University Medical Center.
To note: Aparicio’s attorney is arguing that Aparicio was not driving the Mercedes at the time of the accident, but instead, there “could have been” a third person in the Mercedes with Aparicio and his girlfriend who had been driving but fled the scene of the crash.