Rt. 422 drag racer gets jail
Driver admits speeding before crash that killed 3
NORRISTOWN » Admitting his decision to race another driver on Route 422 was “stupid,” a Washington, D.C., man learned his fate includes time behind bars for his role in a West Pottsgrove Township crash that claimed three lives.
A remorseful and tearful EvaughnSha Antonio Walters, 22, was sentenced in Montgomery County Court on Tuesday to 11½ to 23 months in the county jail on charges of homicide by vehicle in connection with the 12:02 a.m. Feb. 4, 2017, crash on eastbound Route 422 that killed two people and an unborn child.
Judge Todd D. Eisenberg, who called Walters’ conduct “extremely reckless,” also ordered him to complete 10 years’ probation following parole, meaning Walters will be under court supervision for about 12 years.
“This is not an easy case in any way. I don’t know what you were thinking,” Eisenberg addressed Walters. “Three people are no longer living because of the actions you did that day.”
Walters previously pleaded guilty to two felony counts of homicide by vehicle. A person commits homicide by vehicle when they recklessly or with gross negligence cause the death of another person while violating traffic laws. Prosecutors alleged Walters’
violations included racing on highways, speeding and careless and reckless driving.
“The actions that took place were truly stupid. I’m sorry for these stupid actions that took place. If I had just said, ‘No,’ and gone home, we never would have been here today,” Walters said as his voice trembled and he wept at times.
Killed during the drag race crash were Anthony Rodriguez, 23, of East Elmhurst, N.Y., and Marissa Christina Kelly, 20 of Stroudsburg, Monroe County, who were passengers in a second car operated by Shone G. Santiago. Kelly also was pregnant, authorities said.
Kelly’s relatives were in court to witness the imposition of Walters’ punishment and wept during the hearing. In a statement read in court, Kelly’s grandmother said her family’s pain is unbearable.
“I want this to stay with you the rest of your life like it will stay with me,” Kelly’s grandmother addressed Walters in her statement.
Walters testified he will never forget the victims and cannot shake the memory of viewing the aftermath of the crash, Santiago’s mangled vehicle and the body of one victim.
“I understand your feelings. I’m truly sorry for your loss,” Walters addressed Kelly’s relatives, adding he wants to speak to young people about the dangers
of reckless behaviors while driving.
Santiago, 22, of New York, N.Y., pleaded guilty in October to more serious charges of third-degree murder and one count of third-degree murder of an unborn child in connection with the crash and faces a sentencing hearing later this year.
While Walters was not driving the death car, prosecutors said he was liable for the deaths under accomplice liability theories.
“It takes two to make a race. Without his participation this never would have happened,” Deputy District Attorney Thomas W. McGoldrick argued. “I guess it was their idea of fun on a Friday night but it’s a terribly dangerous activity to engage in and this case illustrates that very well. This is a tremendously sad case.”
Defense lawyer Ryan L. Hyde sought to keep Walters out of state prison, arguing Walters “did the right thing” when he called 911 immediately after the crash, has no prior criminal record and was a good student and hard worker. In jail since last May, Walters was not present for the birth of his child last month.
“He feels terrible about what happened that night. He’s a good kid who did something earth shatteringly stupid. He realizes that,” Hyde argued. “This is out of character for him.”
Walters was supported in court by his mother and younger brother.
Investigators determined Walters and Santiago knew
each other by attending UTI technical school in Exton.
The investigation began when West Pottsgrove police responded to the eastbound lanes of Route 422 near the Stowe exit for a report of a onevehicle crash involving a white 2007 BMW that left the roadway, crashed through a guard rail and careened 200 feet down an embankment and into a ravine. Santiago, the driver, and passengers Rodriguez and Kelly were trapped inside the overturned vehicle, according to the criminal complaint filed by county Detective David Schanes.
Rodriguez, the front right seat passenger, and Kelly, the rear left seat passenger, were declared dead at the scene. Santiago suffered multiple injuries but survived.
An autopsy determined Rodriguez and Kelly suffered blunt force head injuries. Doctors also determined Kelly was 15 weeks pregnant.
Detectives alleged Santiago’s car was traveling at a minimum speed of 121 mph just before the crash.
The crash occurred near a construction area and the posted speed limit is 40 mph and the area is marked by construction zone warning signs, authorities said.
Investigators determined Walters, driving a 2007 Toyota Camry, called 911 and told dispatchers he witnessed a car “run off the road.”
In his initial statement to detectives Walters claimed that Santiago and he were traveling at a slow speed at the eastbound
entrance to the Route 422 bypass in Douglassville, Berks County, when a black Dodge Challenger with a Delaware license plate pulled up beside Santiago and then both cars “took off just flying.” Walters claimed he eventually came upon the damaged guard rail, stopped his car and saw Santiago’s car in the ravine upside down.
Walters initially claimed the black Dodge Challenger also stopped at the scene but then fled.
Based on Walters’ descriptions authorities initially searched for a black Dodge Challenger having a Delaware license plate.
However, detectives downloaded a video from Walters’ cellphone depicting an earlier race in the southbound lanes of Route 100 near Shoemaker Road and determined the cars involved where operated by Santiago and Walters, who was filming the race as he drove. The video recorded the speedometer of Walters’ vehicle at 137 mph during the earlier race, according to testimony.
During a subsequent March 1 interview Walters then admitted to racing Santiago on Route 100 and later on Route 422 and to lying about a black Dodge being part of the Route 422 race, according to the arrest affidavit.
“Walters stated that Santiago asked him if he wanted to do another pull, meaning race. Walters replied, ‘not really.’ Walters said that they ended up racing anyway,” Schanes wrote in the arrest affidavit.