Country Singer Kylie Rae Harris Was Drunk at Time of Fatal Crash, Report Says
by EG
A police report confirms that singer Kylie Rae Harris was drunk and speeding at the time she caused a crash that killed 16-year-old Maria Elena Cruz in New Mexico. Harris also died in the crash. Police say Harris was driving at over 100 miles per hour and had a blood alcohol level more than three times the legal limit. Read on for details.
Via People.
New Mexico Police have completed the investigation into the fatal car crash that killed Kylie Rae Harris and 16-year old Maria Elena Cruz in September.
The Taos County Sheriff’s Office confirmed in a press release on Thursday that Harris, 30, was drunk behind the wheel and driving at incredibly high speeds before her vehicle collided with two others on Sept. 4.
“Data [from the cars’ on-board computers] showed Ms. Harris’ speed at 102 miles per hour at the time of the first collision event before crossing into the oncoming lane and striking Ms. Cruz’ vehicle at 95 miles per hour,” a spokesperson for the TCSO said.
Country music singer Kylie Rae Harris was drunk when she caused a deadly crash in New Mexico in September that killed her and a high-school driver, officials said Thursday https://t.co/tmzva1jYpZ
— NBC News (@NBCNews) December 6, 2019
Authorities also noted that a toxicology report indicated that Harris’ blood alcohol concentration was .28, which is three times the legal limit for impaired driving. Meanwhile, teen driver Cruz had no alcohol in her system at the time of the crash.
“The now-completed investigation supports what we suspected at the time of our initial investigation and my earlier press release that stated alcohol consumption was suspected and speeding was a factor,” Sheriff Jerry Hogrefe said.
BREAKING: The Texas singer's BAC was 3x the legal limit at her time of death: https://t.co/aluvtnlOpq
— Taste of Country (@TasteOfCountry) December 6, 2019
In the wake of the authorities’ findings, Harris’ family spoke of their sadness that alcohol contributed to the loss of two lives.
“The family of Kylie Rae Harris received the toxicology report and deeply regret that alcohol contributed to the tragic deaths of Maria Elena Cruz and Kylie,” the family said in a statement to PEOPLE.
“No family should have to endure the heartbreak of losing a child.”
In September, the Taos County Sheriff’s Office told PEOPLE in a statement that Harris was traveling south on State Road 522 in a black Chevrolet Equinox when she struck a black Chevrolet Avalanche from behind.
The collision initially sent Harris’ vehicle into the northbound traffic lane, where she then collided head-on with Cruz’s white 2008 Jeep, which was traveling north on SR 522 at the time.
Get the rest of the story at People.
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