Charges filed in fatal Thanksgiving crash

Prosecutors have filed multiple felony charges against a Buena man accused of causing a fatal car crash on Thanksgiving and then fleeing the scene.

Kelly Leroy York Jr., 24, was arraigned Friday in Yakima County Superior Court on charges of hit-and-run, vehicular homicide and vehicular assault.

The charges stem from a crash Nov. 27 at the intersection of Branch and Wierman roads near Toppenish.

According to the Washington State Patrol, the crash happened when a Jaguar sedan ran a stop sign at the intersection and broadsided a Nissan Sentra, killing passenger Rose H. Magana, 37, of El Mirage, Ariz., and injuring five others.

The driver of the Jaguar got away on foot, authorities said, leading to York's arrest four days later at a home in the West Valley area of Yakima.

According to an arrest affidavit, the Jaguar belonged to York's girlfriend and witnesses told detectives that York had been seen driving the car in the Toppenish and Buena area.

The patrol also said "numerous" callers identified York as the driver of the Jaguar and that York allegedly told his girlfriend's mother he was involved in the crash.

York told detectives the car had been forcibly stolen from him earlier the day of the crash by someone named "Joker," according to the arrest affidavit.

In addition, he explained the cause of some bruises and bumps as a shop accident in which he dropped a transmission while working on a car with his father.

He remains in custody on $100,000 bail.