Teen kills 3 with Porsche, then darts home to call dad: Cops
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Left inset: Louis Artal (Pima County Sheriff’s Office). Right inset: Josiah Santos and Sophia Troetel (GoFundMe). Background: The scene of the hit-and-run in Tucson, Ariz., where Louis Artal allegedly struck and killed three people, including couple Josiah Santos and Sophia Troetel (KGO/YouTube).

A student from Arizona is accused of fatally striking three pedestrians with his Porsche while they crossed the street, then fleeing to seek assistance from his affluent father in California—who has substantial resources—for legal aid, as reported.

“I can’t fathom how you could leave them behind,” Andrea Santos, the mother of 22-year-old victim Josiah Santos, expressed during Louis Artal’s initial court appearance last week, as reported by the Arizona Daily Star.

The 19-year-old Artal faces charges after allegedly hitting Santos, along with his girlfriend Sophia Troetel, 21, and Katya Rosaura Castillo Mendoza, 21, using his 2019 Porsche Boxster while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, stated a press release from the Tucson Police Department.

According to the release, “Based on witness accounts and physical evidence, a 2019 Porsche Boxster was traveling north on Euclid Avenue, approaching East Second Street, exceeding the 30 mph speed limit. At that moment, three pedestrians were crossing North Euclid Avenue in a marked crosswalk at East Second Street. The Porsche failed to stop, collided with the pedestrians, and left the scene.”

During Artal’s court appearance on Friday, his lawyer acknowledged his involvement in the incident, according to local CBS station KOLD. The attorney stated that after the crash, Artal allegedly returned home and contacted his father, who owns a significant business in California, for assistance.

The dad allegedly told Artal that he needed to turn himself in, which he did. Artal’s attorney said that his father spent “significant resources” to hire a private attorney for him, which he claimed was proof that Artal wouldn’t flee Arizona and should be granted bail for his release.

“I’m not trying to in any way take away from the seriousness of the offense, but my client got scared and didn’t know what to do,” the attorney said, according to the Daily Star, noting how Artal has no criminal record.

“He has complete disregard for law and human life and demands the highest bail allowed,” Sophia Troetel’s mother reportedly told the court while asking for the highest bail possible.

Everyone involved in the hit-and-run, including Artal, has been identified as a student at the University of Arizona. The three victims were all pronounced dead at the scene.

“Artal’s impairment, speeding, and failure to yield to pedestrians in a crosswalk are the major contributing factors of this collision,” Tucson police said in the department’s press release.

Artal has been charged with second-degree murder, aggravated assault with serious injury, and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death. His bail was set at $250,000.

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