Speeding Camaro driver going to prison for killing a Tri-Cities friend, hurting 3 others

A 22-year-old man is heading to prison for killing a friend when he lost control of his speeding Camaro on a Pasco street.

Ramon Contreras of Pasco promised he would never drive fast again as he pleaded guilty this week to vehicular homicide and three counts of vehicular assault in Franklin County Superior Court.

“I would like to say I’m sorry for what I’ve done,” Contreras told Judge David Petersen in front of a courtroom filled with his family and friends. “I lost a friend.”

His friend, Ramon Rivera Arceo, 21, was riding in the front passenger seat as Contreras sped down Madison Avenue on Oct. 12. The Camaro slid at a curve in the road, veering into the path of an oncoming SUV.

Rivera Arceo died three days later.

“He took away my best friend. ... He ripped my heart out,” his sister said in court this week. “It hurts really bad, I don’t know how else to say it. I want my brother to be here, but he’s not here.”

Contreras faced a sentencing range of four years and nine months to just over six years in a Washington state prison. Prosecutors and his defense attorney, Scott Johnson, agreed to recommend the maximum end of the range.

The agreement also includes a requirement that he pay at least $15,000 in restitution.

Petersen agreed to follow the recommendation, noting Contreras had two speeding tickets in the months before the crash.

“I think he appreciates the trauma that he’s inflicted,” Petersen said.

Absolutely tragic

Rivera Arceo’s brother and sister spoke at Wednesday’s hearing. They said the crash has left a hole in their lives. His brother asked the judge to add time to Contreras’ sentence.

Petersen explained that state law sets standardized ranges based on the seriousness of the crime and the person’s criminal history.

Rivera Arceo’s sister explained her brother was the type to always offer a helping hand and he had wanted to have children. She said they had been best friends since they were kids.

“I feel like I didn’t get enough time with him,” she said.

She said Contreras will still get a chance to be a father and live a full life — something her brother will never get.

“These cases are always absolutely tragic. The loss of life is unnecessary,” Deputy Prosecutor Daniel Stovern said.

Bad decision

Johnson explained that his client early on wanted to accept responsibility for the crash, knowing he made a bad decision that night.

“They were all friends, good friends really, and as young men sometimes do, you get a fast car and your friends and you drive around and you drive too fast and there are times when it has these absolutely horrible consequences,” he said.

While it doesn’t change the outcome, Johnson said no alcohol or drugs were involved in the crash.

The defense team had hired an expert to reconstruct the crash and determined that his client was driving too fast for the road.

“Mr. Stovern is right. These are the types of cases that keep you up at night because as Ramon’s family said, there’s no bringing him back,” Johnson said. “And he’s gone because my client was driving his car too fast.”

Pasco 2023 crash

Pasco police say Contreras was driving north on Madison Avenue about 7 p.m. in a central Pasco neighborhood between the Tri-Cities Airport and Road 68.

The driver of a Chevy Traverse was heading south and spotted the sports car coming around the corner and swerve near Hartford Drive, according to court documents.

The Camaro overcorrected and swerved directly into the path of the Traverse. The SUV plowed into the passenger side.

According to a video taken from the scene, the SUV ended up on top of the Camaro.

Rivera Arceo suffered serious internal injuries.

The SUV driver and two passengers suffered broken legs, according to court documents.