$10K cash bond Jesus Cardenas-Torres in fatal crash that killed Marlyn Hernandez, Uber passenger

Jesus Cardenas-Torres



MILWAUKEE -- Jesus Cardenas-Torres made his initial appearance in Milwaukee County court on Wednesday, March 27 on charges in connection with a crash that killed a 22-year-old woman who was a passenger in an Uber near 21st and Orchard Friday, March 22.

Cardenas-Torres, 16, is charged as an adult with the following counts:


    In court on Wednesday, probable cause was found for further proceedings. Cash bond was set at $10,000 and a preliminary hearing was set for April 2.

    Jesus Cardenas-Torres



    According to the criminal complaint, two officers were on patrol around 1:30 a.m. on Friday when they saw an SUV speeding. They began to try to catch up to it to follow it. They saw the vehicle turn onto Greenfield Avenue at S. 23rd Street.

    Fatal crash near 21st and Orchard in Milwaukee



    The complaint said pole cameras in the area showed the SUV made turns at intersections -- eventually "going eastbound on W. Orchard Avenue, where, in the intersection at 20th and Orchard Street, it disregarded a stop sign, entered the intersection, and struck a Pontiac that was legally entering the intersection from the right. It struck the Pontiac in T-bone fashion."

    Fatal crash near 21st and Orchard in Milwaukee



    Marlyn Hernandez



    The officers arrived on the scene a short time later, saw Cardenas-Torres exiting the driver side of the SUV and "immediately took him into custody." A passenger in the SUV was removed by police -- but that person, identified as a juvenile, declined to talk to police.

    Two people remained in the Pontiac -- but a third person in that vehicle had been ejected and was lying nearby.

    The driver of the Pontiac was an Uber driver -- and suffered broken ribs, cuts, and pain to a knee and neck.

    The person who was ejected from the vehicle suffered multiple injuries, but survived.

    The passenger that remained in the Pontiac was taken to a hospital, where she later died. She was later identified as 22-year-old Marlyn Hernandez of Milwaukee.



    Cardenas-Torres spoke with a detective -- and "admitted driving the white SUV during the accident at 20th and Orchard on March 22." He indicated "he did not have a driver license and knew he was not allowed to drive," the complaint said. Cardenas-Torres also "made reference to a recent incident where police pulled him over as he was driving a car and gave him tickets." Records show these tickets were issued on Jan. 7 -- and included a citation for operating after suspension.