Carranza Trial: Deadly hit-and-run victim’s BAC also over legal limit
Jurors in trial of Raymundo Carranza, the former El Paso County sheriff’s deputy blamed for a deadly hit-and-run, learned Wednesday the man Carranza is accused of killing had a blood alcohol content level over the legal limit.
On May 12, 2012, Carranza was heading east on Spur 601 in a Honda Ridgeline when he allegedly struck 26-year-old Richard Lopez as he was changing a flat tire by the side of the road. Lopez died at the scene.
Police said Carranza failed to stop and render aid, but returned to the scene later. Carranza is charged with manslaughter, intoxicated manslaughter and accident involving injury or death.
Jurors Wednesday heard from an expert in the administration of breathalyzer tests and responsible for the certification of law enforcement officers who perform such tests.
The expert said that judging from the information she received from the bar that served Carranza alcoholic beverages, she determined his blood alcohol content level would range in between .110 and .140.
Tuesday, prosecutors showed jurors a recording of Carranza’s interview with police detectives. In it, Carranza is heard telling detectives he had “three cape cods and a beer” at a restaurant with friends. Carranza is then heard saying he went to a bar, where he had another beer.
Prosecutors said Carranza’s BAC level the night of the crash was .106. The legal limit in Texas is .08.
Defense attorneys Wednesday questioned the amount of alcohol in the drinks Carranza drank that night, arguing bars cheat and usually serve less than than the formula calls for.
The prosecution countered by asking the expert witness how she arrived at the BAC range she presented. The witness stated she worked backwards from the blood sample taken at 7 a.m. and “added the elimination factor multiplied by three.” This gave her the range of the alcohol level at 4 a.m., the time Carranza allegedly ran over Lopez. The expert acknowledged her figure was within a margin of error plus or minus 20 percent.
Jurors Wednesday also heard from Deputy Medical Examiner Dr. Juan Contin, who conducted the autopsy of Ricardo Lopez. Contin explained Lopez’s injuries as jurors were shown photos of the autopsy.
External exam showed several abrasions on right temple, chin, lips, legs and feet. Contin testified all injuries are consistent with being hit by a vehicle. The medical examiner explained an internal exam showed Lopez’s skull and brain were detached from his spinal cord.
The cause of death was determined to be “dislocation of head and spine,” Contin said.
Under cross examination from the defense, Contin said the blood alcohol content level in Lopez’s body was .168, also over the legal limit.
Tim Lovett, a field expert in collision reconstruction, also testified Wednesday. Lovett said the distance from the area of impact and the area where Lopez’s body came to rest was a little more than 100 feet.
Lovell also explained the formulas he used to determine Carranza was going 44 mile per hour when he allegedly struck Lopez. Evidence at the scene led Lovett to conclude Carranza struck the opened driver side door, which in turn, struck Lopez.
“Without a doubt,” that collision could have been avoided, Lovett said, arguing a “sober alert person” would have had enough time to avoid hitting Lopez, regardless of the environment surrounding him.
