An 18-year-old man allegedly attempted to blame his friend for the fiery drunk-driving crash, which resulted in the friend’s death, court documents state.
Nathan Rudy Rodriguez, 18, is facing one count of intoxicated manslaughter in connection with the Jan. 27 fatal crash at Marne and Carlotta drives in the Lower Valley.
The single-vehicle crash resulted in the death of 19-year-old Jesus Manuel Ceniceros. Police believe alcohol and speed were the main contributing factors in the deadly crash.
Rodriguez was booked Jan. 27 into the El Paso County Jail on a $150,000 bond. He remains jailed as of Monday, Feb. 5, jail records show.
Ceniceros was the passenger in Rodriguez’s 2012 Yellow Honda Civic. However, Rodriguez initially claimed to police Ceniceros was driving the car, a complaint affidavit states. An investigation and witness statements proved Rodriguez’s version of the events was false, an El Paso Police Department officer wrote in the affidavit.