APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) – The driver who allegedly caused a fatal crash was driving more than 100mph just before impact, and had taken mushrooms less than an hour beforehand.
Irma Garcia, 19, is charged with first-degree reckless homicide for the Sept. 17 crash which killed Silia Hurula.
During an initial court appearance Friday, a cash bond of $500,000 was set. No preliminary hearing was immediately scheduled.
According to the criminal complaint, crews were called to East Calumet and Oneida streets at 10:50 p.m., where one vehicle had rear-ended another, with the struck vehicle bursting into flames.
Tracking data from Garcia’s Saturn Aura showed it was traffic 106 mph 2-4 seconds before the crash, with the accelerator at 99% engaged.
“The brake was shown as not being used in this time period,” the complaint states.
Garcia denied drinking or taking drugs before the crash. She said she believed a car was following her.
“Eventually, Irma told Sgt. Kuether she took mushrooms around 2000 hours at her aunt’s house in Appleton. She said she took three grams of mushrooms, which was a decent amount. She said she was fine until she realized some shit and what they were doing. She said the mushrooms make her feel more open to things. Irma said she could feel the mushrooms when she was driving, but that wasn’t why she crashed though, rather it was because they were following her, and they were going to kill her or keep her hostage,” the complaint states.
Hurula died of “thermal injury and blunt force injuries,” according to the complaint.
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