The driver who turned himself in for the crash that killed a young Williamsburg couple and their unborn child was indicted today on charges of second-degree manslaughter. Julio Acevedo, 44, had previously been charged with leaving the scene of the "accident" that killed Nathan and Raizy Glauber, as well as their unborn child, on the night of March 2nd. A grand jury indicted Acevedo on the more serious charges after the investigation determined that Acevedo was traveling 69.1 miles per hour, more than twice the legal speed limit.
Witnesses, including firefighters and another civilian driver, also say Acevedo was speeding and passing cars recklessly immediately prior to the incident. "While we knew it was a snowy evening and the defendant was speeding, our investigation has developed additional information concerning the nature of Mr. Acevedo’s conduct leading up to the fatal crash,” Brooklyn DA Charles Hynes said in a statement. According to the DA's office:
As Acevedo passed the Fire Truck and the civilian car, the witnesses heard Acevedo's car accelerate and watched the car increase its speed. As Acevedo's car passed the civilian's car it rounded a curve at a high speed and immediately slammed into the car carrying the victims. After the crash Acevedo exited his car was seen observing the carnage and fled.
Acevedo, who did time for the murder of Kelvin Martin (the original 50 Cent) and had been charged with DWI just two weeks before the fatal crash, claims he was driving recklessly because someone had shot at him in retaliation for the Martin job. "I was speeding, trying to get away because I was scared from someone shooting at me," Acevedo said in an interview before turning himself in. "The cab driver came out of nowhere and I couldn't stop."
Despite Acevedo's excuses, NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly said earlier this month, "There were no reports of gun shots in the area at that time."
