Lower Bucks Man Found Guilty Of Murder After 106 MPH Drunk Driving Crash Killed 2: DA

BRISTOL, PA — A jury found a Bristol man guilty of two counts of third-degree murder, the Bucks County District Attorney's Office said Friday, after a high-speed drunk driving crash killed two and injured two others in December of 2019.

Around 1 a.m. on Dec. 6, 2019, 38-year-old Kevin Peters was driving a Mazda CX-5 SUV at more than 100 mph when he rear-ended a minivan in the southbound lane of Interstate 95 in Bristol Township, the DA said.

The collision caused the minivan to veer off the roadway into the shoulder, where it hit the concrete barrier. The car burst into flames after the crash, according to the DA's report, killing backseat passengers Juan Jose Tavarez-Santelises, 20, and Claribel Dominguez, 35, both of Philadelphia, who were unable to get out.

The driver and front passenger, Tavarez-Santelises' father and brother, each suffered severe burns and injuries but managed to escape the car. The passengers had been on their way home from work, according to the DA.

An investigation found data from Peters' Mazda’s onboard computer that showed he was traveling at a speed of at least 106 mph in the seconds just prior to the crash. The data also showed Peters applied the brake no more than 4/10 of a second prior to impact. One second prior to impact, the throttle on his SUV was found to be at 85 percent of full capacity.

The investigation also found that Peters had been drinking at a work function in Philadelphia that began at 5 p.m., and headed to a bar afterwards. Peters testified that he was offered a ride home from Philadelphia.

Video surveillance played at trial showed Peters struggling to exit a parking garage in his car, eventually breaking a security gate to leave. Video also showed Peters driving with his taillights off and running a stop sign at N 18th and Cherry streets in Philadelphia.

An investigation by Pennsylvania State Police determined Peters left center city Philadelphia approximately one hour before the crash. He went over the Scudder Falls Bridge onto I-95 north and I-295 east, passing up the exits closest to his home, and his erratic driving prompted two 911 calls within three seconds of each other.

Peters abruptly exited and got back onto I-295 west, which turns into I-95 south. The DA said that he testified that while he was driving, he reached down to the passenger floor to get his phone out of a bag. When he looked up, he crashed into the minivan.

A blood draw performed two hours after the crash indicated Peters had a blood-alcohol concentration of at least .151 while driving.

Peters' trial began last Monday, the DA said. In addition to the murder counts, he was convicted of two counts each of involuntary manslaughter, homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence, homicide by vehicle, aggravated assault by vehicle while driving under the influence, aggravated assault by vehicle, aggravated assault, and recklessly endangering another person.

Following the conviction, Common Pleas Judge Diane E. Gibbons also found him guilty of 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. She revoked bail, and Peters now awaits sentencing from police custody.

This case was investigated by Pennsylvania State Police and was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney David A. Keightly Jr.

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