WSP: Suspect in I-5 hit-and-run that killed 2 pleads not guilty
Man accused of killing 2 in alleged DUI hit-and-run arrested
Washington State Patrol (WSP) said the suspect, 21-year-old Antonio Lopez, was trying to reenter the U.S. from Mexico when authorities identified and arrested him. Lopez is currently in the San Diego County Jail awaiting extradition to King County to face charges.
SEATTLE - A man suspected of a hit-and-run that killed two people in Seattle earlier this year has pleaded not guilty.
Washington State Patrol (WSP) said the suspect, 21-year-old Antonio Lopez, was trying to reenter the U.S. from Mexico when authorities identified and arrested him. Lopez is currently in the San Diego County Jail awaiting extradition to King County to face charges.
The crash happened on I-5 near Spokane St. on Feb. 26, 2023.
According to WSP, a car lost traction on the slushy road and rear-ended a car in the HOV lane. One of the drivers got out to inspect the damage, and at the same time, Lopez was speeding down I-5 and slammed into them, according to court documents.
Court docs say Lopez and his girlfriend got out of the Jeep and ran.
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Docs: Suspect wanted for deadly I-5 hit-and-run had previously killed teen in similar crash
A 21-year-old has been charged with vehicular homicide for allegedly crashing into two cars and killing two people on I-5 in Seattle before running away from the scene.
Authorities say two people in the initial car crash were killed when the Jeep hit them. The driver outside the vehicle was thrown into the road, suffering a bleeding head injury, fractured ribs and a lacerated liver. He was taken to Harborview Medical Center for treatment of serious injuries.
In March, Lopez was identified as the suspect after police tracked down his girlfriend. She told officers that Lopez did not have a license and that she had not been in contact with him since the crash.
A warrant was issued for Lopez’s arrest in March. Authorities did not say if his girlfriend faced any charges for running with him or failing to notify police.
He has been charged with two counts of vehicular homicide, vehicular assault and felony hit-and-run. He pleaded not guilty.
According to court documents, Lopez drove off the shoulder of a road in 2017 and hit and killed a teenager. He also ran from that scene, court documents said. Lopez would have been 15 at the time of that crash.