Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
- Ricardo Aceves, 22, of Spanish Fork, was charged Monday with manslaughter in a 2022 crash on I-80.
- Aceves is accused of driving recklessly and racing, reaching speeds of 186 mph before losing control.
- The crash killed a 15-year-old boy; police say the driver had just left FuelFest car show in Tooele.
SALT LAKE CITY — A criminal charge was filed Monday against a Spanish Fork man who police say caused a high speed, fiery crash on I-80 nearly three years ago that killed a teenage boy.
Police say the man was driving erratically and recklessly after leaving an auto show geared toward racing.
Ricardo Aceves, 22, is charged with manslaughter, a second-degree felony.
On July 23, 2022, a BMW crashed into a Ford Explorer on I-80 near 7200 West, according to the Utah Highway Patrol.
"Troopers were informed that both vehicles involved were on fire and that there were people trapped inside," according to charging documents.
The driver of the Ford told investigators that he was traveling west and Aceves was eastbound when the BMW lost control.
"(He) stated that the BMW went airborne, crossed the median and rolled, hitting his car head on," the charges state. A passenger in the Ford told UHP troopers that they could see the BMW coming toward them and that they stopped on the road because they were unable to switch lanes due to traffic.
"(The witness) confirmed that the BMW was already on fire as it rolled toward them. All passengers of the Ford were able to exit the vehicle prior to the fire," according to the charges.
Another witness told investigators that he "observed the BMW out of control and rolling end-over-end into the westbound lanes. (He) stated that the BMW was already on fire when it came into the westbound lanes and that he observed two people get ejected from the BMW," the charges state.
Another witness "stated he and his passenger ran to the BMW to try to help the passenger stuck in the back, while another passenger crawled out of the window. (He) stated the BMW was now on fire and they heard screaming. (He) stated they heard multiple explosions and then observed the Ford start on fire. (The witness) stated that the passenger who crawled out the window was screaming that his brother was still inside the BMW and that people were trying to assist the passenger but were not able to reach him before the vehicle was engulfed in flames," according to the charges.
Investigators confirmed that Aceves and his three passengers had left FuelFest car show at the Utah Motorsports Campus in Tooele and were "driving erratically and recklessly as they entered onto I-80." They also found a GoPro camera inside the burned vehicle which was repaired and had recorded footage prior to the crash.
"Aceves is observed making multiple illegal passes to get past vehicles and traveling up to speeds of 186 mph," the charges allege. "Aceves and his passengers are observed making signs to other vehicles traveling eastbound, asking them to race. At one point in the video, Aceves and another vehicle are observed racing each other down I-80. While still traveling at a high rate of speed, Aceves's back right tire experienced a tread separation, causing Aceves to lose control and swerve into the center median. As Acesves swerves, the BMW rolls and is vaulted into the air, across the median and into oncoming traffic," according to charging documents.
The BMW was traveling 142 mph leading into the crash, the charges say. It rolled more than 900 feet before hitting the Ford. James Munoz, 15, of Santaquin, was trapped in the BMW and was killed.
"(Aceves) has 13 prior arrests with nine convictions (indicating) an unwillingness to be compliant with the law. Since this accident (he) has been cited for driving on a suspended license and driving without a valid registration" in Spanish Fork and Davis County justice courts and "has shown little concern for his actions or the community," prosecutors wrote in the charges.
