The driver involved in the fatal collision described below that occured on July 27, 2015 has been identified as 26-year-old Jesus Olea. Olea had been receiving medical treatment since the collision. On August 18, 2015 Olea was booked into Pima County Jail on 4 counts of manslaughter.
On July 27, 2015, at approximately 1:50 a.m., Tucson Police officers responded to East 6th Street and North Country Club Road for a report of a single vehicle collision. Upon arrival, officers located 4 occupants in the vehicle. The driver and one of the passengers were immediately transported to Banner University Medical Center with life-threatening injuries. Shortly after arrival at the hospital the passenger and her unborn child passed away due to injuries sustained from the collision. The two additional passengers in the vehicle were pronounced deceased at the scene.
Detectives from the Tucson Police Department’s Traffic Unit were able to determine that the vehicle, a 2001 Lincoln Town Car, was traveling eastbound on East 6th Street, approaching North Country Club. The driver lost control of the vehicle at a bend in the road and struck a palm tree in the median area.
The initial investigation revealed that alcohol appears to be a factor in the collision. Detectives are still trying to determine if speed was also a factor.
The four passengers that died in the collision have been identified as 25-year-old Alexandria Lara (and her unborn child), 26-year-old Martin Verdugo and 28-year-old Sheyla Velarde.