Driver in accident that killed Ames waitress, her son and her boyfriend is charged with vehicular homicide, OWI

Danielle Gehr, Ames Tribune
·1 min read
Mario Zubia, 37, Cristy Gutierres, 44, and Jesse Gutierres, 10, died in a head-on collision caused by a drunk driver on Sunday, Aug. 23, 2020. Gutierres' 6-year-old daughter suffered serious injuries and was the only survivor of the crash.

Correction: A previous version of this story listed the incorrect age for Jesse "Alex" Gutierres, who was 10 years old at the time of his death.

The wrong-way driver involved in an August crash that killed a beloved Ames waitress, her boyfriend and her 11-year-old son is charged with six counts of vehicular homicide, among other charges.

Spencer Bultman, 25, is facing three counts of vehicular homicide while driving under the influence and three counts of vehicular homicide while driving recklessly, all felonies. He is also charged with causing serious injury by vehicle, operating under the influence and possession of marijuana.

The August crash led to the deaths of Cristy Gutierres, 44, Mario Zubia, 38, and Jesse Gutierres, 10, after the vehicle they were in collided with Bultman's vehicle at around 7:30 p.m. Aug. 24. Bultman was driving on the wrong side of the road, according to an Iowa State Patrol minimal crash report.

Guiterres' 6-year-old daughter, Isabella, was the only survivor from their vehicle and has since recovered from serious injuries suffered during the crash. Fire responders also transported Bultman to a hospital for injuries.

For nearly 22 years, Gutierres worked at the Grove Cafe, 124 Main St., where she was well-known in the community.

►More: Ames waitress who died in car crash along with boyfriend, son is mourned by community

Court records show Bultman was found guilty of operating under the influence in 2015.

Bultman pleaded not guilty to all charges Feb. 4, according to court documents, and was released on $100,000 cash bond Feb. 3.

Danielle Gehr is a politics and government reporter for the Ames Tribune. She can be reached by email at dgehr@gannett.com, phone at (515) 663-6925 or on Twitter at @Dani_Gehr.

This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: Driver charged in August crash that killed beloved Ames, Iowa, waitress, 2 others