Officers arriving at the scene of the fatal accident Saturday evening at the intersection of Highway 30 and 16th Avenue arrived to find the three occupants of one car dead inside the vehicle and two of the occupants of the other vehicle in a nearby cornfield. Near where the suspects were apprehended officers found several full beer containers.
Benton County Sheriff Randy Forsyth said that witnesses reported seeing the two suspects immediately after the accident, trying to hide beer in the field.
Deputies arrested Raul Salazar, Jr, 39, of Bushland, Texas, for OWI and three counts of vehicular homicide. The effort to hide the alcohol resulted in a charge of preventing apprehension for Hernandez.
According to the criminal complaint filed today in Benton County District Court, Salazar told officers he had had only four beers, and refused a PBT (breathalyzer) test, Bond for Salazar has been set at $75,000.
Rafael Moreno, 29, of San Fernando, Calif., a passenger in the pickup, was found with Salazar in the field. He was also arrested and charged with preventing apprehension.
On Monday afternoon, the Benton County Sheriff’s Office released the names of the victims.
The deceased have been identified as driver Valerie Ann Schneiders, 22; passenger Jason C. Bessert, 24; and passenger Hailey R. Bessert, age 3, all of Cedar Rapids.
Overton Funeral Home in Traer is handling arrangements for Valerie Schnieders’ funeral. See obituaries below
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