Arrest In Deadly Uber Crash Gives Hope To Victim's Family
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- A man who slammed into an Uber SUV packed with passengers faced a judge Thursday on charges of DUI manslaughter.
At last check, 21-year old Alexander Chica was given $30 thousand bond after surrendering his passport.
Family and dozens of supporters went to court to support him - relieved he was given bond but it didn't seem like the case earlier.
"This defendant on his Twitter page tweeted a little Colombian coming. That is where his family is," said a prosecutor.
Prosecutors wanted Chica to stay in jail over fears he would flee but his lawyer said Chica wasn't trying to run.
"He's referring to a soccer match," said Chica's attorney.
Authorities took Chica into custody Wednesday evening in connection with the fiery accident that killed a man two days after Christmas.
Sanchez's grandmother said Chica's arrest is a glimmer of hope in the family s darkest hour.
Miami-Dade Police said it all happened on SW 157th Avenue near SW 144th Street.
Uber Driver Jean Ralph Adam was transporting 20-year-old Pablo Sanchez Jr. and three of his friends in a GMC Yukon when he tried to make a left hand turn onto SW 144th Street.
At that moment, police said, Chica who was driving his Toyota Corolla on 157th Ave. slammed into the SUV, causing it to rollover and land against a wall.
Both vehicles went up in flames. Sanchez was trapped and died just blocks from his southwest Miami home. Everyone else escaped serious injury.
Police said Wednesday they were later able to confirm Chica was under the influence of alcohol at the time. That's when they took him into custody.
Meantime, Sanchez's family has filed a lawsuit against Uber, Adam and Chica.
Unfortunately for Sanchez, the Uber driver still violated the right of way, directly causing and contributing to the accident that took his life.
It's a tragic situation across the board. Had the Uber driver fulfilled his responsibility, the accident never would have happened regardless of Chica's intoxication.
