Glendale wrong-way crash suspect arrested after release from hospital
Aug 22, 2019, 12:30 PM
(Maricopa County Sheriff's Office Photo)
PHOENIX – The suspect in a fatal wrong-way crash last month on the Loop 101 in Glendale was taken into custody Wednesday after getting out of the hospital, authorities said.
Delilah Castillo, 22, of Glendale was charged with second-degree murder, two counts of criminal damage and five counts of endangerment, Arizona Department of Public Safety spokesman Bart Graves told KTAR News 92.3 FM on Thursday.
“She was booked into jail following her release from a rehabilitation hospital due to her extensive injuries from that fatal collision that occurred on July 30,” Graves said.
Graves said Castillo was driving under the influence at the time of the wreck.
“We do know she was impaired by alcohol, but we will continue to investigate this crash,” he said.
A prosecutor said during Castillo’s court appearance that she had been drinking beer cocktails the night of the wreck and had a blood-alcohol level of .171 percent, over twice Arizona’s legal limit.
Castillo’s Chevrolet Malibu was heading north on southbound Loop 101 near Union Hills Drive when it hit a Nissan sedan driven by 20-year-old Laiquan Lemon, who died instantly, according to DPS.
The incident occurred around 11 p.m. and resulted in a freeway closure that lasted into rush hour the next day.
KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Ashley Flood and The Associated Press contributed to this report.