Cops: Racing vehicle caused two deaths

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Austin police transferred Erick Armando Nuncio-Moreno, 19, to the Travis County Jail.

Nuncio-Moreno had been in the hospital since Saturday morning's deadly collision that killed two people.

Police said the teen is charged with two counts of manslaughter after information indicates he was racing his silver Toyota Celica, going 70- to 90 mph on a road where the speed limit set at 35 mph. 

Police said Nuncio-Moreno's vehicle plowed into a bus stop at 7:25 a.m. Saturday in the 5100 block of First Street near Stassney Lane, where another man stood with the two women.

Authorities said Nuncio-Moreno revved his engine at another driver and took off speeding. The other driver told police he did not make eye contact with Nuncio-Moreno and refused to race.

The man at the bus stop was able to jump out of the way and avoid the vehicle, though the two women were not so lucky.

Police said Nuncio-Moreno's vehicle left the roadway and struck Maria Gaona De Corona, 53, and Adriana Morales-Catalan, 28, as they stood on the sidwalk at a bus stop.

Gaona De Corona died at the scene, while emergency crews transported Morales-Catalan to University Medical Center Brackenridge, where she later died. Morales-Catalan had just celebrated her birthday Friday, March 5.

At the scene on Monday, Michael Powell showed up to add his cross to the memorial site of flowers, candles and a balloon in memory of two women killed. Powell said the cross stands as a symbol.

"It's really sad," said Powell. "I don't know the people personally, but I know it's got to be tragic for the family members. And I'm just trying to do my little part."

Nuncio-Moreno's stepfather said the family needs privacy as they try to figure out what to do next, but they did release the following statement:

"The family would like to convey wishes of sympathy to the families that have been victim of this tragic loss. Our family would like to express deepest sympathy for their loss. Our heart goes out to them. "

Nuncio-Moreno is charged with two counts of manslaughter, which is a second-degree felony. He is being held on $100,000 bond.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call APD Vehicular Homicide Unit detectives at (512) 974-4724. This case remains under investigation.

These are the seventh and eighth fatalies of 2010. At this time in 2009, there were seven fatalities in Austin.