Derek Grey, formerly known as Derek Glasscock, pleaded guilty this week to two counts of manslaughter for a November 2023 crash in Tempe, Arizona, that killed his two passengers. Prosecutors say Grey was driving his Ford Mustang 153 mph when he lost control, went airborne, and struck a power pole and two palm trees, splitting the car in half.
Jesse Ruiz, 32, died at the scene. Maria Rangel, 31, was thrown 80 feet from the impact and died shortly after at the hospital. Ruiz and Rangel were a couple who lived together. Grey, 35, admitted to drinking before getting behind the wheel and told prosecutors he should not have been driving that night.
What Led Up to the Crash?
Tempe police say they first tried to stop Grey near Rural and Terrace roads after clocking him going over 100 mph in a 35 mph zone, and that he was racing another driver down Rural Road before losing control just south of Broadway Road. He was originally charged with second-degree murder before pleading guilty to the lesser manslaughter counts.
What Happens Next?
Grey is scheduled to be sentenced on September 23. Manslaughter in Arizona carries a maximum sentence of roughly 12.5 years per count, meaning Grey could face decades in prison depending on whether the judge orders the sentences to run consecutively or concurrently.
