UPDATE DEC. 25: Court records show Francisco Abel Escoto-Ramirez posted bail on Dec. 24 with the condition that he does not drive.
ORIGINAL STORY
LAS VEGAS (KTNV) -- A man arrested in connection to a deadly crash in Las Vegas told police that he believed a truck was trying to race him, according to a newly-released arrest report.
19-year-old Francisco Abel Escoto-Ramirez and 28-year-old Chris Williams were arrested following a deadly crash involving three vehicles on Dec. 20. Both were charged with reckless driving.
Police say a Chevrolet truck driven by Escoto-Ramirez and a Dodge sports car driven by Williams each crashed into a Nissan on a residential street near Desert Inn Road and Cabana Drive.
The driver of the Nissan -- identified by the coroner as 86-year-old Fernando Benliro -- died immediately after the crash, police say.
According to the arrest report, crash data show the sports car was traveling 86 mph 2.5 seconds before the crash and the accelerator pedal was at 100%. The report also says the truck was traveling 83 mph 2.5 seconds before the crash with an accelerator at 25%.
The posted speed limit for the road was 35 mph, the report says.
In an interview with police, Williams admitted that he was speeding and told officers he believed the truck was trying to race him, according to the report.
Escoto-Ramirez told officers the crash happened because the Nissan did not stop and pulled out in front of him. He also told police he was speeding but was only going 45 mph, the report says.
Police say the crash happened while the Nissan was making a left turn from Blue Ash Lane onto Desert Inn Road, traveling into the path of the truck and sports car. The two vehicles were driving in "close proximity" to one another, the report says.
The crash remains under investigation.
Escoto-Ramirez is being held at Clark County Detention Center on $5,000 bail. He is scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 7 for a preliminary hearing.
Williams was released on bail on the condition that he does not drive, court records show. He is also due in court on Jan. 7 for a preliminary hearing.
Read more Las Vegas breaking news for Dec. 20, 2019
Area near the crash:
