Man charged with manslaughter in fatal I-70 crash, faces additional charges after indictment

COLUMBIA, Missouri (KMIZ)

A man charged with manslaughter in the deaths of two women in an Aug. 6 crash on Interstate 70 in Columbia has faced additional charges following his indictment by a grand jury on Friday.

Walter Montejo, 26, is now charged with two counts of first-degree manslaughter, one count of second-degree assault and two misdemeanors: driving while license suspended and operating another's motor vehicle without insurance. Arraignment is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Monday.

Montejo had previously been charged with two counts of first-degree manslaughter, second-degree assault and driving while license revoked.

Montejo is accused of killing Cindy Helms, 54, of Rockwood, Tennessee, and Melvina Colin, 84, of Broomfield, Colorado. He is being held without bail in the Boone County Jail.

Montejo is an immigrant from El Salvador and does not speak English, so he requires interpreters at his court hearings. Previous court records list his address as South Gate, California, and say he was in the U.S. on a work visa. Prison records list his address as Marshall, Missouri.

According to the statement on the probable cause of the accident, Montejo's vehicle was traveling westbound in the fast lane. Montejo failed to stay in his lane and initially collided with a BMW, which then veered off the right side of the road.

Montejo's vehicle then made a quick move, breaking through the concrete barrier and crashing into a 2017 Toyota Highlander and a 2022 Ram 1500, the statement said. The Ram was thrown through the air and rolled over upon landing, the statement said. The semi-truck then crashed into a 2021 Ford Explorer because it collided with the U-Haul, the statement said.

A witness reportedly told police they were driving behind the semi and the BMW and that the truck was in the passing lane, the statement said. Montejo reportedly put on his right turn signal and struck the BMW as he tried to get into the lane before oversteering, court documents say.