Man pleads no contest in deadly DWI crash
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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A man accused of driving drunk and causing a deadly crash appeared in court by video Monday.
Prosecutors reached a plea deal with Casino Salazar on four charges — vehicular homicide and DWI. Salazar pleaded no contest.
Prosecutors believe Salazar drove drunk and caused a crash that killed Kevin Barton in November 2021. He was 19 at the time. Police said Salazar was driving nearly 100 mph on Montgomery near Morris when he ran a red light and crashed into another car.
“Additionally his passengers were seriously injured and that’s the basis of the great bodily injury counts as well,” said Guinivere Ice, prosecutor.
Inside the SUV, police found open liquor bottles, marijuana and several guns.
Prosecutors reached a plea deal with Casino Salazar on four charges -- vehicular homicide and DWI. Salazar pleaded no contest.
That crash happened just days after Salazar was arrested for a separate DWI crash in Roswell.
Under the plea agreement, Salazar faces up to 18 years in prison. Because of his age, he will undergo a 60-day diagnostic evaluation from the Department of Corrections before he is sentenced.