PEORIA, AZ – A 20-year-old man will face a 30-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to charges in connection with a fatal 2023 crash in Peoria on Friday.
Fox10Phoenix said that, according to court documents, the charges are five counts of 2nd degree murder and a count of endangerment.
The collision occurred on November 16, 2023, off 107th Avenue and Lone Cactus Drive. The young man, Bjorn Keali Hartzell, who was 16 at the time of the crash, was driving a Jeep Grand Cherokee SUV when he crashed into a minivan that left a pre-Thanksgiving gathering.
Two adults from the minivan died from their injuries at the scene. Three juveniles also succumbed to their injuries, and a fourth minor survived.
Maricopa County officials later determined that Hartzell was traveling 112 mph to 115 mph in a 40 mph zone, and according to prosecutors, Hartzell had several signs of being under the influence of marijuana, and Hartzell himself admitted to smoking marijuana.
If you lost family members to a deadly motor vehicle crash, don’t delay in connecting with Tobler Law’s wrongful death legal team for legal support. We are compassionate to the needs of our clients and are ready to fight relentlessly for your right to justice, all while you focus on your recovery. Schedule a free initial consultation online or by calling our office at 480-898-9700 today.