Preliminary Hearing Waived for Casey Russell in Fatal Highway 491 Crash

U.S. Highway 491 near milepost 95 saw a preliminary examination waived Feb. 23 for Casey Wade Russell, 45, of Gilbert, Arizona, in the Dec. 22 head‑on crash that killed Richard Morales, The‑journal reported. The waiver means prosecutors will move the case to district court without the scheduled preliminary hearing evidence presentation.

The crash occurred about 4:56 p.m. Dec. 22 when a 2015 GMC pickup reportedly driven by Russell struck a yellow Hyundai Veloster head‑on, killing Richard Morales of Cortez. Morales worked as a nursing supervisor at Northern Navajo Medical Center and was driving home at the time, according to court filings cited in reporting.

Investigators collected witness evidence at the scene. Commercial truck driver Phoenix Rayne told New Mexico State Police Officer Dominic Detsoi that he saw the GMC cross the center line in an attempt to pass, and Rayne provided a video of the crash to state police. Officer Detsoi’s notes in the criminal complaint state he “smelled a strong odor of alcoholic beverage coming from” Russell and observed that Russell had “bloodshot and watery eyes.”

Russell initially denied driving and, in the criminal complaint, “asserted he didn’t remember what happened before the crash.” After further questioning, Russell admitted he was driving the pickup and that he was the only occupant in the vehicle, court records show.

The New Mexico crime lab reported a blood‑alcohol concentration of 0.24 g/100 mL for Russell—a level described in the filings as “twice the legal limit.” That BAC result was among the pieces of evidence prosecutors planned to present at the preliminary examination before Russell waived the hearing.

Russell faces misdemeanor DWI, an open container charge, and second‑degree felony homicide by vehicle in the death of Morales. Following the waiver, the case was bound over to the 11th Judicial District Court, and an arraignment is scheduled for 8 a.m. March 9 before District Court Judge Stephen Wayne.

Russell’s employment history with the Mesa (Arizona) Fire Department is detailed in the court filings: he had worked for the department since 2006 and was a captain at the time of the accident. The city placed him on paid administrative leave after the crash and, per city spokesman Kevin Christopher, “He is no longer employed as of Feb. 3.” Prosecutors and court officials will next address formal arraignment procedures and scheduling in 11th Judicial District Court on March 9.