Teen Charged With Murder in Fatal Drunk Driving Crash on Division Avenue in Grand Rapids
An 18-year-old driver has been charged with second-degree murder and other felonies in connection with a fatal Grand Rapids crash that killed a woman when he ran a red light and struck her car. Police say alcohol and speed were factors.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — An 18-year-old driver has been charged with second-degree murder and other felonies in connection with a fatal crash on the city's south side, in a case police say involved alcohol and speeding.
According to the Grand Rapids Police Department, Christopher Garcia-Puente faces charges of second-degree murder, reckless driving causing death, and operating while intoxicated causing death in connection with a crash that killed a woman last spring. He was arrested in Iowa last week, police said.
How the crash unfolded
Officers were called to the intersection of South Division Avenue and 28th Street SE at 11:40 p.m. on May 3, 2026. According to police, Garcia-Puente was traveling north on South Division Avenue and ran a red light, striking a car crossing 28th Street SE.
The woman driving the other car died at the scene, and one of her three passengers was seriously injured, officers said. Police at the time believed alcohol and speed were factors in the crash.
Garcia-Puente is expected to be arraigned after he is extradited back to Michigan, according to the department.
An unusual murder charge
A second-degree murder charge in a drunk driving case is uncommon, but the police department said it supported the decision by the prosecutor's office to pursue it.
"A murder charge is highly unusual in a drunk driving crash, but based on the investigation, I fully support the decision by the Prosecutor's Office to move forward with that charge," Deputy Chief P.J. Baker said. "I commend our traffic unit on their expertise and diligent work. While nothing can take away the pain and loss for the victim's family, I hope the seriousness of these charges brings them some sense of justice."
What's next
Garcia-Puente, 18, was taken into custody in Iowa and is expected to face arraignment once he is returned to Michigan. The victim's family and the seriously injured passenger have not been publicly identified.
Anyone with additional information about the crash is encouraged to contact the Grand Rapids Police Department.
Sources
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