Woman charged in February fatal car crash in West Valley City
Dec 7, 2022, 8:00 AM | Updated: Dec 29, 2022, 11:21 am
A West Valley police car is parked in West Valley City on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020. West Valley City police say three juveniles are in custody following a shooting at Valley Fair Mall on Monday, May 8, 2023. A man, roughly 30 years old, suffered a non-life-threatening injury. (Kristin Murphy/Deseret News)
(Kristin Murphy/Deseret News)
WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah — A 30-year-old woman is in custody for her involvement in a fatal car crash in February in West Valley City, according to police.
West Valley City Police said Cristal Erica Garcia is facing multiple felony charges, including obstruction of justice.
Authorities believe she was driving a Toyota Tundra that ran a red light and smashed into a pair of other vehicles 10 months ago.
The issue centers around another man who was pointed out by witnesses. According to police, the man smelled like alcohol and expressed a need to get away from the scene.
As a result, the man was taken into custody.
Nearly a year later, police used DNA evidence and a handprint from the driver’s side that they say match up with Garcia.
Police now say the man, who was previously charged, was just the passenger.
Additionally, police think Garcia left the scene right after the crash and left her passenger there to take the blame.
Mark Jones contributed to this report.
Related reading:
- Suspect in 2015 murder of West Valley City woman arrested
- Police investigating the shooting of a 15-year-old in West Valley City
