Authorities arrested a Los Lunas man who allegedly admitted to falling asleep while driving. His actions allegedly caused a crash that killed a young family of four in Arizona.
Jesse David Lovato, 21, faces charges in connection with the crash on Arizona State Route 260, about four miles west of Heber.
Around 12:31 p.m. on September 7, his eastbound GMC pickup truck crashed into a westbound Nissan sedan. The collision killed all four family members in the sedan. The victims were Giovanni Huerta and his wife, Kiah, both 26, and their two sons, aged four and two.
Authorities said Lovato was returning from Phoenix when the crash occurred. He allegedly told authorities that he fell asleep while driving. He claimed he woke up when the crash happened and his truck rolled over.
Authorities said they found marijuana and cannabis vape pens “in and near” Lovato’s truck. He also allegedly told them he smoked marijuana the night before the crash. One officer also noticed signs of impairment. Samples allegedly showed the presence of cannabis in his system.
Lovato remains in the Navajo County Jail on four counts of manslaughter and two counts of aggravated assault. His two passengers are in the hospital in Phoenix with serious injuries.
Detectives from the Arizona Department of Public Safety Vehicular Crimes Unit are leading the investigation. A GoFundMe campaign has also been launched to support the family.
Brant.One will continue updating this article as more information becomes available, helping readers stay informed about the latest developments.
