Justin Sayers

@_JustinSayers

A Louisville man was arrested early Wednesday morning and charged with murder after police said he killed two juveniles who were walking in Jeffersontown late Tuesday night, court records show.

Juan Carlos Ortega-Santos, 26, of the 2600 block of El Patio Place, is accused of killing a 16-year-old female and a 10-year-old female after hitting them with his car near Taylorsville Road and Farrish Drive around 9:45 p.m. Tuesday, according to an arrest citation released Wednesday.

Police found Ortega-Santos in the driver's seat of his vehicle after responding to a report of an injury accident, as well as three juveniles with injuries.

An investigation revealed that Ortega-Santos was driving northbound on Taylorsville Road when he veered into the bicycle lane, where a group of four juveniles was standing, police said. Two of the four juveniles were struck by the vehicle.

Alena Clay, 10, was pronounced dead at the scene, the citation said. Tyeisha Lacy, 16, was transported to Kosair's Children's Hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.

A third female juvenile suffered non-life threatening injuries and was transported to Kosair Children's Hospital, police said.

Ortega-Santos was treated at the scene for non-life threatening injuries, police said. While he was being treated, an EMT smelled alcohol.

After he was transported to Baptist Health, he was served a search warrant for his blood, police said. Tests determined that he had a blood-alcohol content of .200, more than double the legal limit to operate a motor vehicle.

Further investigation revealed that Ortega-Santos did not have a driver's license or insurance, police said.

He was arrested upon his release from the hospital around 4:30 a.m. Wednesday, court records show.

Police said he admitted to drinking two or three beers. He allegedly told officers he did not know how the accident happened or what he hit.

Ortega-Santos is facing charges of murder, assault, wanton endangerment, operating a motor vehicle under the influence, driving without a license and failure to maintain insurance.

He is scheduled to be arraigned Thursday morning, court records show.

Justin Sayers can be reached at 502-582-4252 or jsayers@gannett.com.