Estuardo Chavez's attorney says the 24-year-old was not intoxicated when he drove through a red light, killing a motorcyclist
TRENTON -- Estuardo Chavez admitted to running a red light and striking and killing a motorcyclist, then leaving the crash scene in late May, Mercer County prosecutors said Thursday.
But, Chavez said it was fear that caused him to flee, not intoxication.
Chavez, 24, of Trenton, has been charged with being intoxicated and causing the fatal crash on May 31 before driving to a nearby parking lot in Hopewell Township, prosecutors said during a bail hearing Thursday in Mercer County Superior Court.
He is charged with leaving the scene, death by auto and causing death while unlicensed, prosecutors said.
Chavez was also issued citations from Hopewell Township police for running a red light and driving under the influence.
Police initially referred to Chavez as Rufino Estuardo but the 24-year-old's attorney corrected his name Thursday.
Officers have claimed that Chavez was intoxicated and unlicensed that night when they say he got into a pickup truck and drove through a red light at Washington Crossing-Pennington Road (Route 546) near Scotch Road around 6:30 p.m.
He hit motorcyclist Orest Huraleczko, 60, of Lawrence, who was pronounced dead at the scene, police have said.
Chavez looked back and saw the man but kept on driving to a daycare parking lot less than a mile away, prosecutors said Thursday.
Witnesses at the scene of the crash described a black man with light skin driving a black pickup truck. The description led police to Chavez, whom they found in the daycare parking lot.
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When they took Chavez in for questioning, he admitted to the crash but claimed he fled the scene out of fear. A passenger who was in his truck at the time corroborated his story, prosecutors said.
Chavez's attorney focused on the fear his client felt that night. He said Chavez was not intoxicated and rarely ever touched beer or other alcohol.
Additionally, he said Chavez was licensed in his home country of Guatemala but hadn't gotten around to getting a New Jersey license since he moved here a year ago.
Prosecutors did not discuss the drunken driving citation Thursday, focusing instead on the three felony counts Thursday.
But they said they believed there was a strong likelihood Chavez would be convicted, based on his confession and his lack of a driver's license.
Superior Court Judge Pedro Jimenez also discussed the license issue Thursday.
"At some point it must have clicked in his mind that you need a license," Jimenez said in court.
He added that Chavez - who has only lived in Trenton since late 2015 - has few ties to the community.
Chavez is undocumented and moved to the states less than a year ago, Jimenez said.
Jimenez opted to maintain Chavez's bail at $200,000 cash or bond Thursday.
Anna Merriman may be reached at amerriman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @anna_merriman Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.