Elkhart County Jail ELKHART COUNTY, Ind. -- A Goshen man faces charges in a crash that led to the death of a woman.
25-year-old Luis Perez Duran is charged with Causing Death When Operating a Motor Vehicle with an ACE of .08 or More, Causing Death When Operating a Motor Vehicle While Intoxicated, Causing Death When Operating a Motor Vehicle with a controlled substance, and Causing Death When Operating a Motor Vehicle with a controlled substance.
The crash happened March 29 just before 1 a.m. in Bristol. Officers were called to the area of 102 Vistula Street. When they arrived, officials say they saw a vehicle fully engulfed in flames wedged between the bridge on Division Street and a concrete wall.
Perez Duran was allegedly standing in the river near the bridge, yelling "she is in there."
According to court documents, officers found the body of Dezirae Lemarr at the scene. An autopsy determined her cause of death to be burns and smoke inhalation.
A witness alleged to officers that he saw the car involved in the crash driving by at extreme speeds. When the car burst into flames, he claims he unsuccessfully attempted to put the fire out with a fire extinguisher he got from a local gas station. Court documents allege Perez Duran told the witness to "save the other two;" the witness testified he only saw Perez Duran outside the car, and one pair of hands inside the car.
A search warrant of Perez Duran's blood showed a blood alcohol level of about 0.113. He additionally tested positive for THC and cocaine.
Lemarr's sister says she received Life 360 alerts of Lemarr traveling at high speeds and getting into a crash.
Security footage later obtained by investigators allegedly shows Perez Duran and Lemarr drinking together at El Imperial Bar in Goshen; Snapchat records from Perez Duran also allegedly show the two together at the bar.
Perez Duran had his initial hearing August 13. Further court dates have not been scheduled.