Collision suspect faces murder

The 20-year-old Yuma man suspected of causing a fatal accident last month while fleeing the scene of a theft has been ordered held on a $515,000 cash bond requested by the prosecution.

"This defendant, based on his actions, really doesn't care about abiding by the law," prosecutor James Eustace said during Jose Luis Miranda's brief court appearance Friday.

Miranda, who was arrested and brought back to Yuma after being released from a Phoenix hospital earlier this month, made his initial appearance in Yuma Justice Court.

He was advised by Justice of the Peace David Cooper that the county attorney's office was reviewing the case to see what, if any, charges would be filed.

Cooper informed Miranda that police were asking prosecutors to file charges of second-degree murder, aggravated driving under the influence, criminal damage and a misdemeanor DUI.

Police also asked he be charged with unlawful flight in a second separate case against him. The judge set a $7,425 bond in that matter.

As of Friday afternoon, however, no charges had been filed against Miranda. He is scheduled to return to court Tuesday to find out if prosecutors file a formal complaint against him.

Miranda was arrested earlier this month by the Phoenix Police Department on an outstanding felony warrant from Yuma as he was being released from St. Joseph's Hospital, where he was sent with life-threatening injuries after the April 8 accident.

He was allegedly the driver of the Mitsubishi Eclipse that ran a stop sign at 8th Street and 2nd Avenue on April 8 and collided with a Chevrolet pickup being driven by 89-year old Don Lindquist of Yuma.

Lindquist was pronounced dead at the scene of the two-vehicle accident, which occurred after an alleged "beer run" by Miranda at a nearby market.

The Yuma County Sheriff's Office transported Miranda from Phoenix back to Yuma, where he was booked into the Yuma County jail on May 3. He was held on that warrant prior to his court appearance today.

According to YPD, a motorcycle police officer on routine patrol in the area witnessed a beer theft that afternoon from Hom's Market, 201 S. Orange Ave.

The officer tried to stop one of the two suspects by pulling into the alleyway, but the suspect, allegedly Miranda, was still able to get into a black Mitsubishi Eclipse and flee the parking lot.

The other suspect, who is still unknown, also fled the scene, possibly in another vehicle.

As the Mitsubishi left the scene at a high rate of speed heading south on 2nd Avenue, the officer called in the incident on the police radio but did not give pursuit.

As the southbound Mitsubishi was approaching the intersection from 2nd Avenue, Lindquist, driving his pickup west on 8th Street, was approaching the same intersection.

The Mitsubishi, still traveling at a high rate of speed, ran the stop sign at the intersection and collided with the pickup, according to police.


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James Gilbert can be reached at
jgilbert@yumasun.com or 539-6854.