Man Accused of Sniffing Aerosol Can Before Fatal Collision

Trial begins in death of 8-year-old pedestrian

A 22-year-old Fairfax County man was both drinking and sniffing from an aerosol can before he ran off an Alexandria road last January and struck a mother and son, prosecutors said.

Eight-year-old Brian Hernandez-Chavez was pronounced dead at the scene. His mother survived, but her legs and her pelvis were broken.

Today as the trial of Victor Aldana began, prosecutors revealed new information -- that Aldana had just purchased a can of Dust-Off at the CVS minutes before the crash and that can was found in the vehicle. Some four hours after the accident, Aldana's blood alcohol level was still 0.15, nearly twice the legal limit. He admitted to police he drank two Four Lokos before the crash.

Aldana faces charges including  involuntary manslaughter, DUI and driving without a license.

Prosecutors said Aldana was driving westbound on Duke Street near Alexandria's Landmark Mall around 2:30 p.m. Jan. 15 when suddenly he veered off the road and struck Maria Chavez and her son as they walked along a pedestrian path. An eyewitness who was driving right behind Aldana said she watched his car veer to the right.

"There was time to correct," Susan Coronis testified, "but the car continued and went through a thick sign. ... I looked up and saw two bodies fly through the air." 

Coronis said she immediately pulled over and ran to Maria Chavez, instructing her to remain still until rescue crews could arrive.

"She was asking for her son,” Coronis recalled. “She was in a panic over her son."

She said she then held Chavez's hand and recited the Lord's prayer with her, Coronis praying in English and Chavez in Spanish.

Chavez also testified, walking with some difficulty to the stand, still using a cane. Through a translator she told the judge there was no time to get out of the way.

"I woke up and I was laying on the grass and I saw the lady holding my hand and she told me not to move," recalled Chavez. "I told her I wanted to see where my son was."

"Did you ever see your son again there?" the prosecutor asked.

"No," Chavez answered.

Aldana's defense attorneys said they will try to show his actions that day do not amount to manslaughter.

"This case really is a tragedy,” defense attorney Jasmin Mize said. “It's sad, but it was an accident."

Testimony in the trial is expected to conclude on Wednesday.

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