The blood-alcohol concentration of a 19-year-old involved in a fatal vehicle crash in St. Paul last week was over the legal limit, authorities said.
Jose Orlando Vasquez-Guillen was charged via warrant with two counts of criminal vehicular homicide for his role in the collision, which took place around 1:30 a.m. April 3, according to a criminal complaint filed against him Wednesday in Ramsey County District Court.
Vasquez-Guillen is in federal custody on an immigration hold, according to the complaint. No attorney was listed for him in court records.
The St. Paul teen was driving a 2010 Honda Civic south on Concord Street when he struck the driver’s side of a 2003 Saturn L200 as the vehicle pulled onto the street from a driveway, legal documents say.
The driver of the Saturn, Mark O’Gara, died at the scene.
Vasquez-Guillen told officers he’d been traveling in his own lane of traffic when the Saturn pulled out in front of him, according to the charges.
He admitted that he’d consumed three beers hours earlier, but reportedly became defensive when police pushed for more information, the complaint said.
A blood sample collected from him around 3:40 a.m. revealed a 0.149 blood alcohol concentration, according to legal documents.
The legal limit to drive in Minnesota is .08.
An autopsy revealed O’Gara died from multiple traumatic injuries sustained in the collision. He was 52.
The father of three was related to the family that owns O’Gara’s Bar and Grill — a landmark at Snelling and Selby avenues that is currently closed, but will be reopening.
Mark O’Gara was a first cousin of Tim O’Gara, who inherited the tavern in 1972 from his father.
Tim died in 2004, and his son and wife are the current owners.