21-year-old driver charged with murder in crash that killed Newton man
A 21-year-old man has been charged with murder after Wichita police alleged he was speeding while under the influence, then hit and killed a man with his car.
Martin Tovar-Tavares was hospitalized in critical condition after his car crashed into Tyrone Carter of Newton on the evening of March 11. Carter, 55, was crossing a street in the 1200 block of South Topeka he was struck by a white Ford Focus, Wichita police said in a press release. Carter was pronounced dead at the scene.
Wichita police said in an initial press release that alcohol and speed were suspected to be contributing factors in the crash. Tovar-Tavares was taken to a hospital under police watch and custody and later booked and charged with second degree, unintentional but reckless murder.
Tovar-Tavares’ bond was set at $500,000, and he made his first appearance in court on March 16.
Carter’s family has created a GoFundMe to raise money to give him the “resting place he deserves,” his niece wrote. It can be found at https://www.gofundme.com/f/a-proper-farewell-for-tyrone-carter
