This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
A Spanish Fork man has been charged for allegedly driving drunk and causing a crash that killed his passenger, who had been celebrating his 21st birthday.
Armando Nevarez Jr., 22, was charged in 4th District Court on Friday with automobile homicide, a second-degree felony, in connection with the July death of 21-year-old Chancey Merrick of Orem.
Nevarez was also charged with obstructing justice and false statement at preliminary examination, both class-A misdemeanors.
But Nevarez maintains that a man named Kyler was driving at the time, and had run from the crash scene but police say they have not been able to find such a person, according to the charges.
On July 10, Nevarez, Merrick and one other person were at Lagoon, celebrating Merrick's birthday, drinking beer and rum, according to the charges.
They left the park about 10 p.m. and drove to a bar in Salt Lake City, where Nevarez and the other person went inside, while Merrick stayed in the car, the charges add.
After the bar, the three went to someone's house, but Nevarez and Merrick left and "Nevarez claimed that [they] returned to the bar and had some more drinks," according to the charges.
"Nevarez claimed that when he went outside to smoke a cigarette, he ran into a guy named 'Kyler,' who needed a ride back to Orem," the charges read. "Nevarez claimed that he gave 'Kyler' the keys to his car and Nevarez got in the back seat while [Merrick] was in the front passenger seat."
Witnesses say Nevarez's car was traveling erratically, at about 100 mph, on southbound Interstate 15 just before the vehicle lost control and crashed into a truck parked in the emergency lane near Lehi, according to the charges.
Merrick was partially ejected and died at the scene.
Nevarez was not seriously hurt and got out of the vehicle himself, according to the charges.
"Nevarez claimed that 'Kyler' was driving and ran from the scene," the charges add. "People who arrived shortly at the scene did not see a third person run from the scene. In addition, the driver of the truck stated he witnessed the entire accident and did not see anyone run from the scene."
Nevarez was flown to Intermountain Medical Center. Toxicology results indicate he had a blood-alcohol level of 0.21, more than twice the legal limit, according to the charges.
"Nevarez has maintained the story that 'Kyler' was driving his vehicle," the charges read. But police have spoken to people named Kyler in the Utah County area and have eliminated them as the driver, the charges add.
mmcfall@sltrib.com Twitter: @mikeypanda