2 arrested in Grapevine Lake fatal jet ski crash hit-and-run
Police have arrested the woman they say caused a deadly hit-and-run crash on a jet ski on Lake Grapevine. They say she drove into an 18-year-old kayaker, killing her. Another man was also arrested related to the incident. FOX 4’s Payton May has the latest.
GRAPEVINE, Texas – Texas Game Wardens and Grapevine police are expected to release new information Wednesday about the fatal jet ski hit-and-run that killed 18-year-old Ava Moore over Memorial Day weekend.
The news conference, scheduled for 9:30 a.m. CST, will include updates on two arrests connected to both the jet ski crash and a related vehicle hit-and-run. Representatives from the Texas Game Wardens, Grapevine Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations are expected to speak.
Deadly jet ski crash on Grapevine Lake
Warrant reveals new details in jet ski hit-and-run
A woman linked to the death of an 18-year-old who was struck by a jet ski while kayaking on Grapevine Lake was arrested on Tuesday. A man who allegedly helped her get away from the lake is also in custody.
The backstory:
Investigators said two women were riding a jet ski near Oak Grove Park on Grapevine Lake the evening of May 25 when they struck a kayaker.
The victim, later identified as 18-year-old Ava Moore, suffered severe head trauma. She was pulled to shore by bystanders, then taken to a hospital, where she later died from her injuries.
Authorities said the jet ski’s passenger stayed at the scene and spoke with first responders, while the jet ski driver got into a vehicle with a man. That vehicle crashed into two vehicles as they left the area.
The jet ski driver has since been identified as 21-year-old Daikerlyn Alejandra Gonzalez Gonzalez. The man she left the scene with, 21-year-old Maikel Coello Perozo, has also been arrested.
The Texas Game Wardens are leading the investigation into the water incident. Grapevine police are handling the vehicle hit-and-run cases.
Dig deeper:
According to the arrest affidavit, the jet ski was traveling at a high rate of speed and dangerously close to other people in the water. Witnesses told investigators that Moore and other kayakers tried to paddle away before she was struck from behind.
Bystanders tried to stop Gonzalez and Perozo from fleeing, but members of their group helped them escape to a nearby parking lot. The pair were arrested two days later at the Oak Cliff residence.
Arrest of ‘Alejandra Gonzalez’
Courtesy: Texas Game Wardens
Daikerlyn Alejandra Gonzalez Gonzalez was arrested Tuesday morning at a home in the 4700 block of Kildare Avenue in Oak Cliff. Law enforcement agencies, including Grapevine and Dallas police, the Texas Game Wardens, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Homeland Security surrounded the home around 11 a.m.
According to her arrest affidavit, Gonzalez is charged with second-degree felony manslaughter. Her bond is set at $500,000.
Arrest of Maikel Perozo
Maikel Coello Perozo was also arrested on Tuesday in connection with the incident. Police believe he was driving a blue Toyota Corolla that helped Gonzalez leave the lake. He is charged with an accident involving injury, with additional charges expected today.
Jet ski hit-and-run suspects in the country illegally, Ken Paxton says
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said both Gonzalez and Perozo, who are from Venezuela, were in the United States illegally.
“Ava Moore’s senseless death was caused by an illegal alien who should have never been in our country in the first place,” Paxton said. “My heart breaks for Ava’s family and friends, and my prayers are with them as they face this tragedy.”
Paxton and other state officials commented on the case online.
In a post on X, Gov. Greg Abbott wrote, “Welcome to Texas. Here’s your Death Penalty,” linking to a news article about the crash.
Witnesses help after crash
Grapevine Police give update on hit-and-run arrests
Grapevine Police made an arrest in connection with the crash that happened after an 18-year-old kayaker was hit and killed by a jet ski. The male suspect allegedly crashed into two vehicles while helping the suspect in the jet ski crash get away from the scene.
Lisa Scrabeck was at Grapevine Lake when the crash happened and told FOX 4 what she witnessed.
“I heard someone in the crowd say, ‘She hit someone.’ So I turned around and went back toward the water because I was concerned,” she said.
Scrabeck said she saw bystanders pull Moore from the water and begin life-saving measures. She also saw the suspects attempting to flee.
“I looked towards the water and saw her and the passenger on the jet ski going away from the incident. They were waving toward their people, and you could tell they were trying to get away,” she said.
Remembering Ava Moore
Moore was just weeks away from starting basic training for the U.S. military, a dream her friends and family said she was proud to pursue.
She had graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy Preparatory School less than a week before the crash, on May 19.
“We lost an exemplary teammate this weekend – Cadet Candidate Ava Moore, whose passion for leadership and service left an impact on everyone she met,” U.S. Air Force Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Tony Bauernfeind said. “Her constant happiness and attitude helped her squadron get through the challenges of the Prep School, and her drive to excel was on display as she sought out leadership positions to improve herself and her team.”
Her basketball coach, Ke’sha Blanton, said Moore had big ambitions.
“She talked all year about becoming a four-star general one day because she loved it,” Blanton said. “She made those around her better.”
Moore was visiting her parents in North Texas for Memorial Day weekend when the crash happened.
The Source: Information in this article comes from Texas Game Wardens, Grapevine police, social media posts and previous FOX 4 coverage.
