Driver faces victims in Goodyear cycling crash court

A pickup truck driver faced survivors of a deadly cycling crash in Goodyear, Arizona, for the first time since the incident in February 2023. Pedro Quintana Lujan is accused of hitting a group of 20 cyclists, resulting in the deaths of two cyclists: Karen Malisa and David Kero. He is currently facing 12 misdemeanor counts related to the accident. Authorities report that Quintana-Lujan struck the cyclists on the Cotton Lane Bridge. Although he claimed his steering locked up, investigations found no issues with his vehicle. His attorney, Joey Hamby, stated that the case is a civil traffic accident and that Lujan did not act intentionally or recklessly. During a court hearing, victims were able to see Quintana-Lujan for the first time since the crash. Steve Malisa, Karen's husband, expressed his feelings and said he harbors no hate. Another victim, Clay Wells, hoped to see remorse from Quintana-Lujan and expressed his frustration over a lack of accountability. After the crash, Quintana-Lujan did not call 911, which led to further criticism. After the hearing, Quintana-Lujan gave a brief apology, saying it wasn’t intentional. He faces a maximum of six months in jail for each count, and a jury trial could be possible. His next court date is scheduled for mid-April.