18-year-old Massachusetts teen facing several charges after crash kills 24-year-old

A Lawrence teen was arraigned Tuesday in Newburyport District Court following a fatal motor vehicle crash Monday night, Essex County District Attorney Paul Tucker confirms.

At approximately 9:09 p.m., a 2012 Toyota RAV4 fled from police during a motor vehicle stop on Sparhawk Street in Amesbury. The operator later lost control of the vehicle and crashed, coming to a final rest on Macy Street. One occupant, 24-year-old Beiker Alexander Guerrero Perez of Lawrence, was ejected from the vehicle; he was transported to Anna Jacques Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased. Three additional male occupants were transported to area hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries.

Appearing before the Hon. Hilary McCamic in Newburyport District Court, 18-year-old Yenciel Soto, who Assistant District Attorney Emily Jarmolowicz said was the driver of the RAV4, was arraigned on charges of motor vehicle homicide by reckless operation, failure to stop for police, failure to yield, vandalizing property, possession to distribute cocaine, trafficking in heroin, operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license, speeding, and a marked lanes violation. The defendant, who was represented by attorney Erich Vogt, pleaded not guilty to all charges and was ordered held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing on May 12. The judge also ordered Soto’s bail revoked on a case pending in Lawrence District Court scheduled for trial on June 3.

Another vehicle occupant, 24-year-old Felix Agramonte of Lawrence, was also arraigned in Newburyport District Court, charged with trafficking in heroin and distribution of cocaine. Represented by attorney Daniel Hutchinson, he pleaded not guilty and was also ordered held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing scheduled for May 12. A third vehicle occupant is expected to be arraigned at a later date.

A GoFundMe fundraiser is raising funds for Perez’s funeral.

In addition to DA Tucker’s office, the crash is being investigated by the Amesbury Police Department, the Massachusetts State Police (MSP) Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section, the MSP Crime Scene Services Section, and the Massachusetts Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

All suspects and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.