Credit: Bucks County District Attorney’s Office
A Bristol Township man was convicted in a DUI crash that killed two people and injured two others in 2019.
Kevin R. Peters, 38, of the township’s Fairless Hills section, was convicted by a jury on Friday with two counts of third-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter, homicide by vehicle while DUI, homicide by vehicle, aggravated assault by vehicle while DUI, aggravated assault by vehicle, aggravated assault and recklessly endangering another person. Bucks County Judge Diane Gibbon also found Peters guilty on two counts of driving under the influence and summary offenses of following too closely, reckless driving, disregarding a traffic lane and driving at an unsafe speed, according to the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office.
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Gibbons revoked Peters’ bail following the verdict, which came after a trial that started Monday.
The judge pushed sentencing to a later date.
The wreck happened early in the morning of Friday, December 6, 2019 on I-95 by the connector in Bristol Township.
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A Toyota Sienna minivan was traveling along the highway while the occupants were on their way home from work. Due to concern about mechanical issue, the minivan had its hazard lights on. Peters’ Mazda CX-5 slammed into the minivan from behind at more than 100 mph. The minivan with four people inside went off the highway and hit a concrete barrier, causing it to quickly become engulfed in flames, state police said in court papers.
Juan Tavarez-Santelises, 20, and Claribel Dominguez, 35, both of Philadelphia, were killed in the back seat by the fast-moving fire. The two died of thermal burns, an autopsy found, state police said.
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The driver of the minivan and his passenger, who was related to both men who were killed, were hurt and suffered burns in the crash, state police said.
As part of their investigation, state police obtained medical records that stated the minivan’s driver had pain to his eyes, arm, and thighs. He suffered burns to his face, scalp, forehead, back, and hands, according to court documents.
The minivan’s front-seat passenger suffered chest pain with deep breathing, burns on his ears and behind them, court documents stated.
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Peters testified during the trial that he was offered a ride home after drinking at a work function and following bar stop later in Philadelphia, but he did not take it. Peters also testified that he reached down to the passenger-side floor to get his phone out of a bag and looked up as he slammed into the minivan.
Prosecutors presented evidence details that Peters has circled around area highways leading up to the fatal crash.
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There was also security camera footage played in court that Peters was in Philadelphia establishments. It also showed him struggling to leave a parking garage and violating traffic laws in Center City.
Evidence was also detailed in court that Bucks County 9-1-1 received calls about Peters erratic driving before the crash.
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State police obtained records that Peters’ blood-alcohol level was between .151 and .169 percent, which is higher than the .08 legal limit, shortly after the crash.
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