Send Update: Suspect in Deadly Crash Appears in Court

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Reporter: Chase Moffitt, Brian Mastre

Police ID Crash Victim
Fatal Accident

They were as close as brothers but now one is charged in the death of the other.

Prosecutors say Vidal Becerra was drunk, nearly three times the legal limit on the Fourth of July, and now faces a charge of motor vehicle homicide.

The Becerra family says the crash and death of Nick Galas has hit both families very hard.

The boys were nearly life-long friends, they grew up together, and some people thought they were brothers.

But now Vidal Becerra is facing a motor vehicle homicide charge and, if convicted, up to 20-years in prison for Nick's death.

The crash has done what no one in either the Becerra or Galas families thought would ever happen; it separated Nick and Vidal.

The boys grew up together and have been the best of friends from a young age.

JoAnna Becerra says, "Since they were six years old. It's like I lost a son and she feels the same way. It could have happened to my son. The roles could have been reversed."

JoAnna Becerra has just come from the Douglas County Jail where her son was sent after being booked for motor vehicle homicide.

Vidal's girlfriend watched as the judge handed down a $20,000 bond and prosecutors formally charged him for the death of his friend.

Jordan Law says, "I talked to him on the phone and he is just heart broken. I don't even know how to deal with it. They were always together and he would do anything for Nick."

Police say Becerra's blood alcohol content was .234 and that Nick's injuries may not have been fatal if he was wearing a seatbelt.

Vidal's mother says if he could her son would change it all.

JoAnna Becerra says, "Vidal would switch places in a minute with Nick that's how much he loved him. He loved him like a true brother."

Joanna Becerra also talked a bit about the availability of alcohol in the community. She said they sell too much alcohol in too many places and it is too easy for young people to get hold of.

Her son Vidal turns 21 on Saturday.

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A life-long friendship comes to a violent end after what authorities say was an alcohol fueled crash.

Now two families are struggling with the loss of one young man and potential penalties for the other.

The crash killed nick galas when he was partially ejected and crushed by the car.

His friend Vidal Becerra was driving that night. Police say although only 20-years old, he tested at nearly three times the legal limit for being intoxicated.

JoAnna Becerra says, "It is tragic for both sides of the family and especially Marci, Nick's mom. She has been a good life long friend of mine since, well since the boys went to school, since they were six-years-old."

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Omaha Police say a drunk driver is responsible for the death of one of his best friends.

On Friday, Judge Lohaus set bond at $20,000 for Vidal Becerra, 20, on the charge of motor vehicle homicide.

"This was just actually a couple months ago in May," JoAnna Becerra said holding her son's prom photos. Vidal Becerra was standing proud next to his girlfriend at the South High School dance.

Reporter asks, "This is where?" Alfonzo says, "This is Boy Scouts," Alfonzo Becerra, Vidal’s dad said.

Alfonzo found a few photos that stretched back 10 years ago. But his son's latest photo, a mug shot, has left the family heartbroken. Vidal Becerra is accused of losing control of his car on Q Street Wednesday night, killing his best friend Nick Galas.

The July 4th crash scene rang out louder than any firework near 124th and Q Street. JoAnna Becerra didn't know who bought the alcohol, only that it was her son behind the wheel.

Joanna Becerra told Channel Six News that Vidal and Nick’s friendship stemmed as far back to the school yard days at Assumption Guadalupe Catholic School in South Omaha. And that Becerra said, is what made this story so tragic, one friend charged for the other's death.

Vyctorya Myers was a witness of Wednesday’s crash. "You could here it skid and then hit the wall, and then you could hear it in the air kind of flip and then you hear it land," Myers said.

Witnesses describe chaos when the car landed on its roof.

“One friend was just walking away like I don't think it really hit him fast enough but his other friend was crying, bleeding from his forehead, it was just gruesome," Myers said.

Police say Nicholas Galas, 21, died at the scene. He was partially ejected and not wearing a seatbelt.

County Attorney Don Kleine said Becerra's blood alcohol content was nearly 3 times the legal limit. In court, prosecutors listed it as 0.234. The legal limit is 0.08. Vidal Becerra turns 21 on Saturday.

An investigation has revealed a Volkswagon Jetta struck a railroad tie retaining wall and wooden power pole before flipping and landing on its roof.

"You could hear it skid and then hit the wall. And then, you could hear it in the air kind of, flip. Then you hear it land," explained Victorya Meyers.

The driver, Becerra, suffered minor injuries and has been taken into custody for criminal homicide.

Another passenger, Eduardo Corona, was not injured but was arrested for an unrelated charge.

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