Records: Driver in Tucson wreck reached 132 miles per hour

The driver of a 2023 BMW reached speeds of 132 miles per hour, then tried to flee after running a red light at a Tucson intersection and smashing into a car so hard early Thursday that it split in two, court records show.

All four people involved in the wreck about 1 a.m. Thursday at East Grant Road and North First Avenue survived.

Michael Jesus Luera, 27, was arrested Thursday shortly after being discharged from the hospital, a Tucson police spokesman said.

At an initial court appearance Thursday afternoon, Luera was charged with suspicion of two counts of aggravated assault, two counts of endangerment and two counts of criminal damage. Luera was booked into the Pima County jail and bond was set at $50,000.

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Prior to the crash, Luera reached 132 mph on Interstate 10 and on East Grant Road, according to court records. A witness told police the car he was driving was "weaving in and out of traffic and weaving from lane to lane when there was no traffic."

The BMW was traveling east on Grant Road when it smashed into a 2015 Subaru headed north on First Avenue. Each vehicle carried two passengers. A third vehicle was damaged by the crash debris.

Officers noted Luera showed signs of impairment, including a strong odor of alcohol and bloodshot eyes, records say.

"He attempted to flee the scene and was combative" with officers, court records say.