Jose Menjivar, a 37-year-old man, is facing vehicular homicide charges after he reportedly killed a mother and her 16-year-old son while driving under the influence on a revoked license. Menjivar is a habitual offender of drunk driving. The victims were identified as Melissa Powell, 46, and her son Riordan.
The fatal accident occurred when Menjivar crashed his 2000 Toyota Tundra into a 2016 Mazda CX-5 in Broomfield, Colorado. The police report indicates that Menjivar was driving at excessively high speeds, at about 100 mph in a 40 mph zone. His blood alcohol levels were reported to be over three times the legal limit.
Following the accident, Menjivar was found unconscious and was hospitalized before being taken into custody at the Broomfield County jail. He was charged with vehicular homicide reckless, vehicular homicide DUI and being a habitual traffic offender.
Further investigation revealed that Menjivar’s license had been revoked until July 5, 2024, and he was found with empty beer cans and an open case in his truck. In addition, he had five previous convictions related to drunk driving. Local news reports that he had pleaded guilty in a drunk driving case just four days prior to the incident.
In response to the tragic event, the Boulder County District Attorney, Michael Dougherty, emphasized that there is no excuse for drunk driving and those who make the decision to drink and drive must face the consequences.
Kim Powell, Melissa’s sister-in-law, spoke to The Denver Gazette about the tremendous loss that the Powell family is dealing with while also expressing gratitude for the community’s support. A fundraising page has been created to support the surviving sons of Melissa Powell.
Menjivar is scheduled to appear in court on January 18.
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