Unborn baby dies, several other people injured in suspected DUI crash, police say

LAS VEGAS (KVVU/Gray News) — An unborn child was killed and a number of other people injured in a Las Vegas crash police believe was caused by an impaired driver.

The suspect accused of failing a field sobriety test after the deadly multi-vehicle crash appeared before a judge Sunday afternoon.

Officials said the suspect was identified as 27-year-old Maximiliano Chavez.

Chavez is facing several charges including three felony counts of reckless driving and three felony counts of driving under the influence, one of which resulted in death.

Alec Duvane works near the site of the devastating crash and was witness to it Saturday afternoon.

“I heard a loud bang and crash,” he said.

Duvane said there was a quick response from bystanders to help those who were hurt.

“A bunch of people just kind of helping clear the scene. One of the people who was at the scene came into my shop and told me they were giving CPR on somebody,” he said.

Police investigators said Chavez blew through a red light and crashed into a car that was turning left. This led to two other cars getting hit, impacting more than a dozen people in the crash.

A 37-year-old pregnant woman is now fighting for her life in the hospital after her unborn baby was killed in the crash. A 9-year-old boy was also critically injured.

“The area that you see behind me is the result of an impaired driver that took the life of a child that hadn’t even been born yet and had the opportunity to breathe,” Lt. Cody Fulwiler said during a news briefing after the crash.

This makes 112 traffic-related deaths Las Vegas police have reported so far this year.

“Speed, impaired driving and fail to yield right of way are our top causal factors in all collisions that we see this year. This collision will have a fatal number attached to it,” Fulwiler said.

Metro crime statistics show roughly 25% of those deaths are tied to DUI related incidents.

“It ultimately is your decision when you are behind the wheel,” Fulwiler said. “When you are riding a bicycle, when you are riding a motorcycle, when you are walking on a roadway to pay attention. To not get behind the wheel if you are driving impaired, either by alcohol or drugs.”