Arkansas man accused of driving drunk in fatal wreck pleads innocent; trial set

Asghar Martinez
Asghar Martinez

BENTONVILLE -- A November jury trial has been scheduled for a Rogers man accused of causing a woman's death while driving drunk.

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Asghar Martinez, 31, is charged with negligent homicide, a felony punishable with a prison sentence ranging from five to 20 years. He also is charged with first offense driving while intoxicated.

Martinez appeared in court Monday and pleaded innocent during his arraignment before Benton County Circuit Judge Brad Karren.

The jury trial is scheduled to begin Nov. 29.

Martinez was arrested June 5. He is accused of negligently causing the death of Janet Everts.

Cpl. Aaron Faust, a Bentonville police detective, went to a wreck at 10:19 p.m. June 4 in front of Town Home Suites on Southeast 14th Street, according to a probable cause affidavit. A black pickup with front-end damage was in the outside, west lane of the street, according to the affidavit.

Martinez was standing beside the pickup. He told Faust he was on his phone when a vehicle hit him, according to court documents. Martinez said he was heading west and was driving 40 to 43 mph, according to the affidavit.

Faust reported Martinez had bloodshot, watery eyes, slurred speech and was swaying, according to the affidavit. Martinez said he drank two beers. He later told Faust he drank five beers, and it had been 30 minutes since he drank, according to court documents.

Martinez said he had taken Nyquil for a cold, according to the affidavit.

An accident investigation showed Martinez crossed from the west lanes into oncoming traffic and hit two vehicles, according to court documents.

Everts, the driver of one of the vehicles, died at Cox Medical Center in Springfield, Mo., from massive trauma she suffered in the crash, according to the affidavit.

Faust took Martinez to a hospital to obtain blood sample for testing, according to court documents. Martinez originally agreed to the blood draw, but refused when the process began.

Martinez was being held in the Benton County jail in lieu of $50,000 bond Monday.

Metro on 08/10/2016

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