Discussions to possibly resolve a murder case against a man accused of causing a deadly crash while driving impaired on Scottsville Road are continuing.

Jorge Lopez Iturbide, 33, of Franklin, returned Monday to Warren Circuit Court for a pretrial conference in a case in which, in addition to murder, he has been charged with two counts of first-degree assault and one count each of first-degree criminal mischief, operating a motor vehicle while under the influence (second offense), no operator’s license and failure of owner to maintain required insurance.

Iturbide is accused of being intoxicated while driving a Toyota Corolla on Jan. 6, 2024, and driving into the back of a Ford Escape in the 5000 block of Scottsville Road, leading to the death of 2-year-old Jhavarion Peay, of Bowling Green, who was a passenger in the Escape.

Iturbide’s attorney, Diana Werkman of the Department of Public Advocacy, gave an update to Warren Circuit Court Judge Chris Cohron about the status of the case.

Werkman said she has met with Iturbide and discussed a plea offer extended by Warren County Commonwealth’s Attorney Kori Beck Bumgarner.

“He wishes for me to go back with a counteroffer,” Werkman said.

Cohron reset the case for a hearing on April 21.

The crash occurred in the northbound lanes of Scottsville Road at Cypress Wood Lane.

Jhavarion’s sister, then-5-year-old J’cyonna Peay, was seriously injured.

The childrens’ father, Braxton Peay, drove the Escape.

In prior court testimony, Detective Jennifer Owen of the Bowling Green Police Department testified that Iturbide appeared to be impaired at the crash site, and reported having drank two or three beers in Franklin before traveling to Bowling Green to visit a girlfriend.

After police obtained a warrant to obtain two blood samples from Iturbide, tests showed he had a blood alcohol content of 0.26, more than three times the legal limit for drivers, Owen testified last year.

Officers also examined the computer in Iturbide’s vehicle, which indicated that the car was traveling at 77.1 mph when it made impact with Peay’s vehicle, Owen said.

Data from Peay’s vehicle indicated it was traveling at around 10 mph at the point of impact, according to the detective.