KANSAS CITY —A man is facing charges in connection with a fatal wrong-way crash on Interstate 70 that occurred January 28.
Javier Garcia-Arellano, 26, is charged with a class B felony of Driving While Intoxicated resulting in death, according to the Jackson County prosecutor's office.
According to court records, officers were dispatched to westbound Interstate 70 west of Noland Road in Independence shortly after midnight on a crash with fatal injuries. The crash investigation revealed a Toyota Camry operated by Garcia-Arellano was traveling eastbound in the westbound lane of Interstate 70 and struck a westbound Kia Optima head-on.
After the collision, the Toyota continued traveling east where it was struck by a Freightliner tractor trailer and then collided with another vehicle.
The driver of the Kia died in the crash and the other two drivers sustained injuries.
Garcia-Arellano told police he had been drinking alcoholic beverages that night into the early morning. According to court records he said he had as many as twelve to fourteen alcoholic beverages since 6p.m.
Toxicology reports confirmed the defendant was driving under the influence of alcohol. Javier Garcia-Arellanos did not have a valid driver's license and one prior arrest for driving while intoxicated, according to a Kansas Highway Patrol arrest in May of 2023
He is in custody on a $150,000 bond.