Chester man held for trial in fatal DUI crash last month

CHESTER » A city man has been held for trial on all charges for allegedly running another man down while intoxicated last month.

Jonathan Lee Autery, 46, is charged with criminal homicide, murder in the first and third degree, homicide by vehicle, homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence, aggravated assault and related offenses.

Magisterial District Judge Vincent D. Gallagher heard from

Chester Patrolman Terrance Broaddus Wednesday, who responded to the scene on the 2600 block of Price street about 10:48 p.m. Feb. 1.

Broaddus told Assistant District Attorney Ashley Latonick that he found Martin Vera Felix lying in the road and a grey Mazda minivan crashed into a fence nearby. There were open containers of alcohol in the vehicle, which had suffered significant front-end damage and deployed its airbags, Broaddus said.

Broaddus received word that the suspected driver had fled to a residence on the 1400 block of Culhan Street nearby, where Autery was located and taken into custody by other officers. When Broaddus originally spoke to Autery, he said he smelled of alcohol and was incoherent. Autery was also bleeding from his face and nose.

Chester Detective Ryan Stewart also testified that he reviewed video surveillance that captured Felix being struck and the aftermath. He narrated some of that video in court Wednesday and said the Mazda veered off the road after striking Felix.

Autery, represented by defense attorney Mary Beth Welch, could then be seen getting a piece of the fence he had plowed into and either hitting or poking at the victim in the street, said Stewart. Another video provided some audio in which Autery can allegedly be heard saying, “I told you not to let me catch you in the street, I’m going to run you the f— over,” according to Stewart.

Autery can also be heard saying, “You’re gonna die” and hurling various insults at Felix, Stewart said. Autery later allegedly confessed to driving the vehicle and said he had an altercation with Felix about a week earlier. Autery allegedly told investigators this was the first time he had seen Felix since that dispute.

Stewart said a search warrant was secured and a blood draw was performed about 6:27 p.m. Autery still had a blood alcohol level of 0.122 percent at that time, Stewart said, and marijuana was also present in his system.

Autery is scheduled for formal arraignment at the County Courthouse in Media on April 20. He is being held without bail at the county jail in Concord.