Voice of the Mid-Columbia | Kennewick, Pasco and Richland, Wash. |
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closeTuesday, Nov. 10, 2009
Hearing set for Burbank teen in fatal car crash
By Paula Horton, Herald staff writer
A hearing has been set for a Burbank teen charged in connection with a crash last year that killed two Burbank brothers.
Daniel Varela, 19, has contested the second-degree negligent driving infraction that he recently received and a hearing was set for Dec. 15 in Walla Walla District Court.
Varela was the driver of a 2004 Suzuki Aerio that was struck by a semi-truck while turning off Highway 12 at Humorist Road on Oct. 31, 2008.
His passengers, brothers Jorge Daniel Mendez, 17, and Jesus Jaime "JJ" Mendez, 19, died at the scene.
Washington State Patrol's major accident investigation team couldn't definitely determine who had the right of way because of conflicting witness statements.
But after months of investigation, detectives concluded that it was "extremely likely" that Varela had a red light when he turned left onto Humorist Road and the semi likely entered the intersection on a yellow light, officials said.
The traffic infraction was issued by mail to Varela on Oct. 15.
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