Police arrest man allegedly involved in fatal 422 race

Police have made an arrest in the racing crash on Route 422 that killed three including an unborn child in February. Evaughn-Sha Walters, 21, of Washington D.C., has been charged with two counts of third degree murder, one count of third degree murder of an unborn child, two counts of homicide by vehicle, recklessly endangering another person, unsworn falsifications and related charges, according to the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office.

On Feb. 4 at 12:02 a.m., West Pottsgrove Township police responded to a report of a one-vehicle crash on Route 422 in the township. Upon arrival, police found a white BMW had crashed through the guard rail, left the road and launched down an embankment into a ravine. According to the District Attorney’s Office, the vehicle was found on its roof more than 200 feet from the roadway. The driver of the BMW, Shone Santiago, and two passengers were found trapped inside the vehicle. Santiago was removed from the vehicle by the responding fire units and was flown to Reading Hospital. The passengers, Rodriguez and Kelly were declared dead at the scene and, according to police, Kelly was pregnant at the time of the crash and her unborn child died.

After a joint investigation was launched by West Pottsgrove police and the Montgomery County Detective Bureau, investigators learned a second car was racing the BMW driven by Santiago when the BMW crashed.

The second vehicle, a Toyota Camry, driven by Walters, was racing the BMW while driving eastbound on Route 422 and that’s when, investigators determined, Santiago lost control of the BMW and crashed through the right guard rail, going airborne. As the car traveled 200 feet from the road, it struck trees and eventually landed on the roof of the vehicle. According to investigators, Santiago was driving at a minimum of 121 miles per hour in a work zone where the speed limit is 40 mph. Investigators also found that Santiago and Walters had raced earlier on Route 100 just one hour before the fatal crash. The Route 100 race was caught on video by Walter’s cell phone and the speedometer, according to police, indicated at one point that the driver was reaching speeds as high as 140 mph.

Walter was arraigned on Sunday, May 7, before Magisterial District Judge Robert M. Sobeck, who denied bail. The defendant was remanded to the Montgomery County Correctional Facility. A preliminary hearing was scheduled for 11 a.m. May 17 before Magisterial District Judge Scott T. Palladino.

The case will be prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Thomas, W. McGoldrick, chief of the Trials Division.

Evaughn-Sha Walters