LOS ANGELES \u2014 A driver who plowed into a group of Los Angeles County sheriff\u2019s recruits on a training run last year, killing one and injuring 24 others, was charged Thursday with vehicular manslaughter, authorities said.
Nicholas Gutierrez, 23, was charged with two counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and nine counts of reckless driving causing great bodily injury, according to a statement from the Los Angeles County District Attorney\u2019s Office.
If convicted, he could face up to 12 years in state prison.
Gutierrez, of Diamond Bar, was arrested after the Nov. 16, 2022, crash in Whittier but released while authorities investigated further. He was arrested again on Thursday, the DA\u2019s office said.
About 75 recruits, from the county Sheriff\u2019s Department and several local police agencies, were running in formation on a street near the Los Angeles suburb of Whittier when an SUV veered onto the wrong side of the road and into the cadets, then crashed into a pole, authorities said.
Twenty-five cadets suffered injuries, including severe head injuries and broken bones, then-Sheriff Alex Villanueva said at the time.
One of them, Alejandro Martinez, was hospitalized for eight months before dying of his injuries in July.
\u201cThe felony filings today are a step towards justice for the family of Deputy Alejandro Martinez and all the LASD Recruits who were injured, many of whom have life-altering injuries sustained because of this tragic incident,\u201d current Sheriff Robert Luna said in a statement.
Tests didn\u2019t find any indication that Gutierrez was under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Gutierrez told NBC Los Angeles he fell asleep at the wheel while heading to work as an electrician installing solar panels.
\u201cI woke up to the sound of [recruits] banging on the windows,\u201d he said.
\u201cI didn\u2019t intentionally do it,\u201d Gutierrez said. \u201cI wish it never happened. I feel bad it happened.\u201d
A statement Thursday from Gutierrez\u2019s attorney, Alexandra Kazarian, said that he and his family have and will continue to fully cooperate with law enforcement.
\u201cNicolas and his family are beyond devastated about this horrifically tragic accident,\u201d the statement said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n