Faces vehicular homicide count in South Valley rollover.

 

Andy Mendoza, 15, has been charged with vehicular homicide in a Wednesday night rollover on Pajarito Road west of Coors that killed 18-year-old Denise Herrera, Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Erin Kinnard told ABQjournal.com.

The crash occurred shortly before 10 p.m. when the Chevy Cavalier traveling eastbound at a high rate of speed on Pajarito SW struck a culvert at Douglas Avenue, causing the driver to lose control, Kinnard said. The car rolled several times, landing upside down.

Deputies initially thought there were three people in the car, but a 21-year-old female had been driven to the hospital before the deputies arrived on the scene, Kinnard said.

Herrera died at the scene. The driver and a 16-year-old male passenger also were taken to the hospital, but none of the passengers appeared to have life-threatening injuries, Kinnard said.

Deputies believe the four had been drinking, and others in the car tried to persuade officers that Mendoza hadn't been driving, she said.

Mendoza was charged with vehicular homicide when it was determined he was the driver, according to Kinnard.

Further charges could be filed pending the results of toxicology tests, she said.

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