Nicholas Gutierrez said in his first television interview that he felt bad about what happened.

Nicholas Joseph Gutierrez, 22, denies that he drove his SUV into a group police recruits. He was arrested and later released on suspicion of attempted murder of a peace officer.

A group of about 75 recruits was going on a jog in Whittier last Wednesday when a Honda CR-V traveling in the wrong direction crashed into them. After the vehicle struck a light pole the driver sustained minor injuries. Cadets took him into custody and he was taken by ambulance to the hospital.

Alex Villanueva, Los Angeles County Sheriff, later stated that investigators had "developed probable cause [to believe] the crash was intentional." Gutierrez was then released from jail. Authorities claimed they did this to allow investigators to build a stronger case against prosecutors.

Gutierrez made his first public statements on the crash during a new interview with NBCLA. The interview aired in part Monday morning, before the complete piece airs tonight.

"I have been living in it since I woke up in a nightmare. It wasn't something I planned. It would have been a terrible thing if it had happened. He said that he felt terrible about it. Also, his mother can be seen saying, "As mom, you don't want your children to go through this,"

According to NBC, Gutierrez’s lawyer claims that the injuries to his face were not from the crash but sustained while being held.

Gutierrez stated that he was "just stunned" and was dragged out by the police. I asked if everything was okay. They tried to tell me that I had done it deliberately, but I wasn't. They kept trying to convince me that I did it intentionally, but I insisted on saying I didn't."

The complete interview will air tonight at 11pm on NBCLA News

Fox News also heard from Gutierrez's lawyer that her client drifted into the wrong lane before the accident and continued on to the next scene. He also hails from a proud law enforcement family, with relatives who work at Los Angeles Sheriff's Department, California Highway Patrol, and LAPD.

Villanueva stated that 25 of the 25 cadets sustained minor injuries in the crash. Fourteen had moderate injuries while four were severely injured. Five were also critically hurt. LASD stated that four of the injured cadets were still in critical condition on Sunday. The rest had been released from the hospital. They added that Alejandro Martinez has been through setbacks which have left him in grave conditions. Please keep Alejandro Martinez and his family in prayer.

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Title: Driver Accused of Plowing Through Cadets Says He 'Didn't Intentionally Do It'
Sourced From: toofab.com/2022/11/21/nicholas-gutierrez-whittier-driver-cadet-crash/
Published Date: Mon, 21 Nov 2022 18:33:59 +0000

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