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vehicular homicide

Denver jury finds driver guilty in death of 2 men

The driver who ran a red light in a stolen car and smashed into another vehicle has been found guilty of all eight counts in the crash that killed the two men in the other car.

A jury in Denver District Court on Tuesday found Jeffery D. Sloan, 37, of Glendale guilty of vehicular homicide, vehicular eluding and other charges in the June 9, 2019, deaths of driver Yasir Hasan and Mark Karla.

Denver Police officers located a stolen Jeep Liberty on the street on June 9 and approached to investigate. Sloan drove off, eluding the officers at a high rate of speed. As per Denver Police policy, they did not chase the Liberty.

Sloan sped off at nearly two times the speed limit, running a red light at the intersection of Colfax Avenue and Colorado Boulevard. He broadsided a Hyundai Insight driven by Hasan. Sloan abandoned the Jeep and ran off.

Hasan, who was 33, died at the scene. His passenger, Mark Karla, who was 45, sustained severe and mortal injuries. He was taken to a hospital but did not recover.

The District Attorney’s Office of the 18^th Judicial District was appointed special prosecutor in the case.

“The defendant fled from the police in a stolen car, and he blew through a traffic light at nearly twice the speed limit, ending two innocent lives. After looking to see how much carnage he had wrought, he fled again like a coward. He even tried to flee police when they went to arrest him,” said District Attorney George Brauchler, who personally tried the case with Chief Deputy District Attorney Brian Sugioka. “But he could not run from the evidence or this conscientious jury. He could not run from justice.”

The jury convicted Sloan of:

Two counts of Assault 1-extreme Indifference F3
Leaving Scene/accident Involving Death F3
Vehicular Eluding-w/death F3
Leaving Scene/accident Involving Sbi F4
Vehicular Eluding-w/injury F4
Two counts of Vehicular Homicide-reckless Driving F4

Sentencing is set for Oct. 9 at 1:30 p.m. The presumptive sentencing range is 20 to 88 years in the Department of Corrections; the imposed sentence will be determined by the judge.

50 years for man who killed 2 while driving high in stolen truck

A Thornton man has been sentenced to 50 years in prison for killing two people from Texas and seriously injuring two others in a crash he caused while driving high in a stolen truck.

Skylar Pagano

Judge Jeffrey Holmes sentenced Skylar Pagano, 28, in Douglas County District via Webex on Thursday.

A jury found Pagano guilty on Dec. 16, 2019, of 17 counts, including vehicular homicide DUI in the deaths of Festus Poyner and Julee Davis, both of whom were 32 years old.

The judge noted the aggravated nature of the crime and the defendant’s past failures at rehabilitation. Pagano was on felony probation when he killed Poyner and Davis, as well as on bond awaiting sentencing in another felony. He had pleaded guilty to DUI just five months prior.

“You drove a stolen vehicle at a high rate of speed, passing vehicles on a curve, under the influence of substances – all of those things individually could lead to tragedy. Taken together, this outcome was almost inevitable,” Holmes told Pagano. “Your criminal history is extensive, and there is no indication of any remorse. You have already been exposed to almost every intervention the system has to offer you.”

“Selfish is not a big enough word for what this killer did. He took the lives of a 2-year-old boy’s parents. He shattered the little boy’s body and the lives of his grandparents and extended family,” said District Attorney George Brauchler. “But here is all you need to know about this guy: A month after his meth-fueled collision, when asked by law enforcement about killing two people, this amoral, self-loving destroyer of a young family said, ‘People die every day. I don’t care about them, I only care about myself.’ And that is all. No prison term would be too long for him.”

On May 20, 2018, Pagano was driving a stolen Ford F150 southbound on Colorado 83 with a female passenger. He was speeding – driving 80 mph where the speed limit was 65 mph. He moved to pass in a no-passing zone on a curve and hit a Toyota RAV4 driven by Poyner head-on.

The driver compartment of the RAV4 was crushed. Poyner and passenger Davis were declared dead at the scene. Their 2-year-old son was in a car seat in the back. He survived with serious, life-threatening injuries.

Pagano and his passenger were both seriously injured.

Pagano told investigators he was high on methamphetamines when he crashed.

While the families of Poyner and Davis displayed remarkable grace and compassion during proceedings, they urged the court to hold Pagano responsible for the consequences of his actions. Many travelled to Colorado from out of state at various times to give impact statements.

“There were 99 fractures in (their son’s) body – he had a full body cast, a wheelchair,” Davis’ older sister told the judge. “I don’t want (Pagano) to be able to hurt another person ever again.”

“I don’t believe this man deserves to be on the street to do this to anybody else,” Poyner’s brother said.

Prosecutors asked for a lengthy prison sentence.

The son of Davis and Poyner “has made a miraculous recovery, but that does not take away from the horror of what was done to him,” Deputy District Attorney Dan Warhola told the court. “This is a case where everywhere you turn, there is another aggravator more severe than the last.”

“None of this was an accident, and all of this was preventable,” added Chief Deputy District Attorney Brian Sugioka, who tried the case with Warhola.

Pagano was convicted of:

• 2 counts of vehicular homicide DUI
• 4 counts of first-degree assault
• 1 count of reckless child abuse
• 2 counts of vehicular homicide reckless driving
• 2 counts of vehicular assault DUI
• 2 counts vehicular assault (reckless)
• 1 count possession of drug paraphernalia
• 3 traffic counts

The young son of Davis and Poyner made a full recovery and does not remember the crash.

20 years for speeding driver who was high when she killed 2 people

A woman who killed two people in a car crash as she was evading arrest was sentenced Thursday to 20 years in prison.

Deanna Mae Bixby

Douglas County District Court Judge Patricia Herron sentenced Deanna Mae Bixby, 21, via Webex, on the two charges. Other counts were dismissed as part of the plea agreement.

Bixby pleaded guilty Feb. 13 to two counts of vehicular homicide DUI in the deaths of Ryan Scott Carter and Jayne Frances Davicsin. Carter was 27 and Davicsin was 25 when Bixby crashed into their car as she was speeding on U.S. 85 near Mineral and ran a red light.

“To those who believe there is no more need for prisons, let this case be a reminder of the massive disparity between the punishment and the crime. This is an eyelash for an eye,” said District Attorney George Brauchler. “Because of Colorado’s offender-friendly sentencing structure, this self-absorbed killer of two innocent, young adults will likely be back on our streets before she turns 30. Ryan and Jayne will never get to turn 30. For the victims she crushed as she fled, for our community … how can this be justice? Colorado can and should do better.”

The incident began about 2 a.m. Feb. 6, 2019, when a Douglas County Sheriff’s deputy on patrol spotted what appeared to be a car break-in in Castle Pines. A sedan and an SUV left the scene, and the deputy followed them to contact the drivers.

The suspect vehicles were travelling north on U.S. 85 when the deputy tried to pull over the SUV, which was behind the sedan. The SUV raced off and did not yield to the deputy. Other units were called in to assist.

The sedan sped off travelling northbound in the southbound lanes of U.S. 85, at times reaching speeds of more than 100 mph. It crashed into the car Carter and Davicsin were in, killing both of them.

“The defendant plowed into the intersection and T-boned the victims’ vehicle, with catastrophic consequences. The scene was horrific,” Deputy District Attorney Meghan Gallo told the judge during sentencing on June 26. “The defendant exhibited 17 miles of extremely dangerous behavior – choosing to continue to speed while high on meth for mile after mile. She put everyone in her path at risk.”

Bixby, the driver of the sedan, was taken to Littleton Adventist Hospital to be treated for her injuries. The sedan had been stolen in Aurora.

The SUV, which was also stolen, was later found abandoned. Investigators determined Mario Juan Augustine Jose, 24, had been driving the SUV. He was arrested in Denver on Feb. 19, 2019.

Jose pleaded guilty Aug. 19 to one count of vehicular eluding. On Oct. 21, he was sentenced to three years in prison.

Friends and family of both victims gave statements during sentencing; at times 60 people were on the Webex hearing.

“Our hearts are broken by the actions of Miss Bixby. She killed two people, and their lives mattered. No one can imagine the shock and pain we endured at the hands of this criminal,” Carter’s mother told the court. “Ryan did not deserve to die over something so senseless. He had so much to offer the world, and he should have had so many years of life. We feel cheated, and we will always wonder what if …

“Deanna Bixby took everything away from us.”

Gallo prosecuted the case with Chief Deputy District Attorney Brian Sugioka.

Judge Herron chastised the defendant as she imposed the sentence.

Deanna Bixby “has lived her entire life with an absolute complete disregard for the lives and properties of others. She has lived a life that is all about her and is selfish beyond words,” Herron said.

She added, speaking directly to the defendant: “I see nothing that tells me that you are experiencing any remorse or regret. I see nothing that indicates you have any clue or any appreciation for what you have done. … I don’t believe you when you say you want to turn your life around – you have said that before and it has not been true. I don’t think it is true now.”

Guilty plea in hit-run death of Parker bicyclist

A Nebraska man pleaded guilty in the hit-and-run crash that killed a Parker bicyclist last summer.

Preston James Dorris, 36, pleaded guilty to three charges in the July 4, 2019, crash that killed Edward Charles “Chuck” Vogel.

Vogel was riding his bicycle southbound on Pine Drive in unincorporated Douglas County when he was hit from behind by a Kia Spectra driven by Dorris. The crash happened at 6:25 a.m. Mr. Vogel died the next day.

The Kia was found abandoned in Parker on July 5, 2019. Detectives traced the car through the registered owner to Dorris. Dorris was arrested outside Alliance, Neb., on July 12.

“This case literally hit close to home. My kids and I ride bikes in that area and on that road,” said District Attorney George Brauchler. “A homicidal act that was borne of pure selfishness and self-preservation ended with a first act of responsibility by the killer. Nothing he does in court, no sentence the judge can give, can bring back what has been taken so easily from the victim and community in this case. These are the most preventable homicides in our state … and yet they keep coming.”

On Feb. 25, 2019, Dorris pleaded guilty to:
• Leaving the scene of an accident involving death, a Class 3 felony
• Vehicular homicide – reckless driving, a Class 4 felony
• Careless Driving- — vulnerable road user, a traffic misdemeanor

Sentencing is set for April 17 at 9:00 a.m. before Douglas County District Court Judge Theresa Slade. The presumptive sentencing range is 4-18 years in the Department of Corrections.

Douglas Co jury finds driver who was high guilty of all counts in double fatal crash

A Douglas County jury found a 27-year-old Thornton man guilty of killing two people from Texas and seriously injuring two others in a crash he caused while driving high in a stolen truck.

Skylar Pagano was found guilty Dec. 16 of 17 counts, including vehicular homicide DUI in the deaths of Festus Poyner and Julee Davis, both of whom were 32 years old.

Pagano was driving a stolen Ford F150 southbound on Colorado 83 with a female passenger. He was speeding – driving 80 mph where the speed limit was 65 mph. He moved to pass in a no-passing zone on a curve and hit a Toyota RAV4 driven by Poyner head-on.

Pagano and his passenger were both seriously injured.

Pagano told investigators he was high on methamphetamines when he crashed.

“There are few more selfish acts than getting high on drugs, climbing behind the wheel of a Ford F150, and speeding down the road used by our families,” said District Attorney George Brauchler. “Here, this narcissistic act did more than break nearly all the bones of the innocent parents of a 2-year-old boy, it broke his family — killing them and leaving him parentless. And in a discussion about killing two people, this guy callously responds ‘people die everyday.’ Despicable.”

Pagano was convicted of:
• 2 counts of vehicular homicide DUI
• 4 counts of first-degree assault
• 1 count of reckless child abuse
• 2 counts of vehicular homicide reckless driving
• 2 counts of vehicular assault DUI
• 2 counts vehicular assault (reckless)
• 1 count possession of drug paraphernalia
• 3 traffic counts

Sentencing is set for Feb. 18., 2020, at 1:30 p.m.

9 years for driver who hit, killed motorcyclist near Sedalia

A Parker man was sentenced this morning to 9 years in prison for hitting and killing a motorcyclist near Sedalia.

Ronald Hargrove

Douglas County District Court Judge David Stevens sentenced Ronald Hargrove, 49, to 9 years in prison for the Class 3 felony “leaving the scene of an accident involving death” in the death of Suzanne Weston of Parker, who was 69.

“You chose to take the risk of getting behind the wheel,” Stevens told Hargrove during sentencing May 28. “Everyone who was on the roadway that day was put at risk – the numbers caught up with you.”

Stevens cited the fact that Hargrove was driving with a revoked license and no sleep. He had two previous DUI convictions but refused to follow through with treatment and “violated out” of the substance abuse programs, Stevens noted.

Hargrove also had low levels of alcohol, THC and prescription medications in his system.

“Yet another driver who somehow feels that driving is a right, and not a privilege,” said District Attorney George Brauchler. “This man shouldn’t have been behind the wheel – let alone after consuming alcohol, marijuana and prescription drugs. But he made an irresponsible, selfish decision, and he cut short the life of Suzanne Weston.

“He has earned every day he will be behind bars for what he did to Suzanne and her family and friends. Hargrove’s sentence will end all too soon. The sentence he imposed on Suzanne Weston will be forever. This is why we build prisons.”

On Oct. 12, 2017, Weston was riding her motorcycle single file with three other motorcyclists on northbound U.S. 85 in Douglas County. The riders moved into the left-turn only lane and slowed to wait for a green light to run onto Colorado 67 toward Sedalia. Weston was last in line.

A 2010 Dodge Ram pickup driven by Hargrove was northbound on U.S. 85. The truck went from the right lane into the left turn lane and cut off other witnesses in a separate vehicle on scene. The truck hit Weston and continued off the right side of the southbound lanes, through a ditch, onto the frontage road. Hargrove got out of his truck, walked over to Weston lying in the road, then got back in the truck and continued driving on the frontage road, eventually heading southbound on 85.

Witnesses got the license plate number. Hargrove was pulled over and arrested by a Douglas County deputy a short time later. Hargrove admitted to fleeing the scene of the crash due because there were warrants for his arrest. His driving privileges in Colorado were suspended at the time.

Weston was taken to the hospital but did not survive her injuries.

Weston’s husband, friends and family spoke to the judge to advocate for a strong sentence.

“For many days I felt as though I could not breathe,” Weston’s stepdaughter said of the days after the crash killed the woman who raised her from age of 11. “When will the sound of Suzannes’ helmet hitting the pavement go away?”

She added: “I would like him to receive the maximum possible sentence for his crimes. I want the universe to punish him, beyond what the court can do, considering the life he took when he chose to consume alcohol, take marijuana and prescription drugs, and drive.”

On March 22, 2019, a Douglas County jury found Hargrove guilty of leaving the scene and of “vehicular homicide, reckless driving,” a Class 4 felony. Colorado law does not mandate prison time for either offense.

Prosecutors called Hargrove’s actions “horrific” and “appalling” in asking Stevens to impose the maximum sentence of 18 years in prison.

“It wasn’t an ‘accident’ in the moments after he crashed.” Deputy District Attorney Dan Warhola told the judge. “He got out of his truck, looked at what he had done, walked back to his truck and fled the scene. It was a choice. He left Suzanne Weston to die in the middle of the highway.”

“His driving was dangerous, reckless, and unsafe to himself and those he shared the roads with that day. Once again, an innocent life is taken because of the dangerous actions of another,” said Deputy District Attorney Joe Whitfield, who tried the case with Warhola. This was preventable. Now, because of his actions, Suzanne Weston’s family has to go on without their loved one.”

8 years for pot-impaired driver who killed woman in Douglas County

A Castle Rock man was sentenced to eight years in prison for driving while impaired by marijuana and killing a young woman in a 4-car crash.

Francisco Alexi Sanchez

Douglas County District Court Judge Theresa Slade sentenced Francisco Alexi Sanchez, 20, for the death of Amanda Hill, who was 24 when she died.

“It wasn’t just the decision to get behind the wheel – it was a decision to take an illegal substance and then drive,” Slade told Sanchez in imposing the maximum sentence under terms of the plea agreement. “There are consequences for your decisions. The victims did not get the choice to make a decision that day.”

On March 7, 2018, Sanchez pleaded guilty to one count of vehicular homicide, one count of vehicular assault and one count of driving while ability impaired.

“When it comes to making drivers incapable of operating motor vehicles safely on our roads, marijuana once again proves it is just as deadly as alcohol. Here, another innocent life was snuffed out by someone who picked getting high on marijuana over his responsibility as a driver,” said District Attorney George Brauchler. “It is unfortunate and unnecessary that Colorado’s weak laws do not promise a tougher penalty for impaired drivers who kill our innocent neighbors.”

On June 5, 2018, Hill was driving her Toyota Rav4 southbound on Crowfoot Valley Road, just north of Castle Rock.
Sanchez was driving a Saturn Vue northbound on Crowfoot Valley Road when he crossed a double yellow line and hit a Hyundai Santa Fe that was in the southbound lane. He then hit Amanda’s car head-on.

The Hyundai that had been hit crashed into a Chevy Equinox.

Hill was airlifted to a hospital but did not survive her injuries.

Numerous family and friends of Hill attended the sentencing, and several addressed the court.

“We have to live the rest of our lives without our beautiful daughter. This senseless act will cause us pain and suffering for the rest of our lives,” said her father, Ed Hill. “Those who did wrong must take responsibility for their actions. The message must be sent to those who do drugs and drive. The choice was made and there are consequences.”
Amanda Hill’s mother, Denise Hill, described living in a “black hole of grief.”

“The loss of our daughter was absolutely 100 percent preventable,” she said. “The defendant made reckless choices that fateful day. There must be consequences. We have to send a message.”

Even though Sanchez told investigators he had not been drinking or doing drugs, he tested positive for low levels of THC.

“The defendant did have THC in his bloodstream,” Deputy District Attorney Dan Warhola told the court during his sentencing argument on May 2. “Getting behind the wheel after ingesting marijuana is completely unacceptable and this defendant deserves the maximum sentence for the decision he made that resulted in Amanda’s death.”

Slade sentenced Sanchez to six years in the Department of Corrections on the vehicular homicide count; two years in prison on the vehicular assault count; and 180 days in jail on the DWAI. The counts are to run consecutively.

The judge suspended the jail sentence and one year for each of the DOC sentences upon successful completion of specified community service, substance abuse treatment, participation in victim impact panels and monitored sobriety.

Driver guilty in death of motorcyclist near Sedalia

A Douglas County District Court jury has convicted a pickup driver of multiple felonies after he hit and killed a motorcyclist near Sedalia.

Ronald Hargrove, 49, of Parker, was convicted March 22 of “leaving the scene of an accident involving death” as well as “vehicular homicide – reckless driving” in the death of Suzanne Weston of Parker, who was 69.

A 2010 Dodge Ram pickup driven by Hargrove was northbound on U.S. 85. The truck went from the right lane into the left turn lane and cut off other witnesses in a separate vehicle on scene. The truck hit Weston and continued off the right side of the southbound lanes, through a ditch, onto the frontage road. Weston got out, looked at Weston, then got back in the truck and continued driving on the frontage road, eventually heading southbound on 85.

Witnesses got the license plate number. Hargrove was pulled over and arrested by a Douglas County deputy a short time later. Hargrove admitted to fleeing the scene of the crash due to open warrants for his arrest. His driving privileges in Colorado were suspended at the time.

Weston was taken to the hospital but did not survive her injuries.

“After driving into another human being and mortally wounding her, Hargrove got out and looked at what he had done. Confronted with the decision to be humane and choose personal responsibility over self-preservation, this gutless “man” put himself above the victim he made and the law,” said District Attorney George Brauchler. “He then insisted a jury of his peers force responsibility on him. And they did. Unfortunately, under Colorado’s weak vehicular homicide and hit-and-run laws, there is no promise of prison for this cowardly and homicidal act. Colorado deserves tougher laws. Hargrove deserves prison.”

Sentencing is set for May 28. The presumptive sentencing range for a Class 3 felony is 4-12 years DOC and 2-6 years DOC for a Class 4 felony.

10 years in prison for Aurora drunk driving death

An Aurora man has been sentenced to prison for driving drunk without a license, crashing, and killing the woman who was a passenger in his car.

Maurice Palmer

Arapahoe County District Judge Andrew Baum on Friday sentenced Maurice Palmer, 32, to 10 years in the Department of Corrections for the 2016 death of Ananiece Foshee, who was 28.

On April 26, 2018, Palmer pleaded guilty to one count of vehicular homicide DUI in Foshee’s death. Lesser charges were dropped as part of the plea agreement.

“Another life lost due to the selfish decision-making of a drunk driver. There is no mystery to ending drunk driving fatalities immediately: Do not drive if you have been drinking or ingesting intoxicating substances,” said District Attorney George Brauchler. “Overnight, we could end this scourge on our roads from which there is no protection for our families. Until drunk and high drivers put the safety of our community over their short-sighted interests, our office will continue to seek prison for the deaths they cause.”

On July 2, 2016, Palmer and Foshee were at a bowling alley in Aurora. During the evening Palmer smoked marijuana and drank alcohol.

About 10:30 p.m., the two walked out to Palmer’s black Ford Explorer in the parking lot. Surveillance video shows Foshee walked to the driver side door, but Palmer got in the driver seat. There was a discussion, and Foshee ended up in the passenger seat.

At 10:48 p.m. police responded to the intersection of South Chambers Road and East Crestline Avenue where the Explorer had hit a light pole. Both Palmer and Foshee were ejected.

Palmer was treated at a hospital; Foshee died.

Palmer told police Foshee was driving. The evidence and video told a different story.

The crash data recorder from the Explorer indicated the SUV was travelling at 80 mph when it hit the light pole. The posted speed limit on Chambers Road at that location is 40 mph.

Blood samples from Palmer tested 0.133 BAC. The limit for drunk driving is 0.08 BAC.

Palmer’s driver’s license was revoked in 2014 because of his status as a habitual traffic offender.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Jake Adkins, who prosecuted the case, pointed to Palmer’s history — and the fact that had previously completed a DUI victim impact panel — in asking the judge to impose the maximum sentence allowed under the plea agreement.
Palmer “knew the consequences of driving drunk, but that was not enough to stop him,” Adkins said. “He’s been given opportunity to change his behavior, and he hasn’t done that.”

Several friends and family of Foshee also made statements during the hearing.

“I have had to endure two years of fighting for the right thing,” said Foshee’s mother, referring to the lengthy court process during which Palmer was out on bond. “When you don’t do the right thing, you have to endure the consequences.”

Foshee’s uncle also spoke of the time since the crash.

“I would like for you to consider that we have been waiting 2 years to lock him up,” he told the judge. “We are dealing with a murderer and a killer. He certainly murdered (Ananiece). … Hold him accountable and lock him up.”

Judge Baum listened, then ruled Palmer would serve 10 years.

“It appears a very bright light was extinguished because of your choices,” he told Palmer. “This is made all the more serious by the aggravating factors … I keep going back to how fast you were going and how intoxicated you were. You smoked pot, drank four shots and still thought it was Ok to get behind the wheel.”

Prison for drunk driver who killed Grandview cheerleader

A Conifer man who was driving at 2.5 times the legal limit for alcohol when he hit another car and killed a 16-year-old cheerleader from Grandview High School is going to prison.

Christopher Tetley

On June 1, Christopher K. Tetley, 25, pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide-DUI and two counts of vehicular assault-DUI in the July 25, 2017, crash that killed Phoebe Lester and seriously injured two others in the car with her.

Prosecutors dismissed lesser counts as part of the plea agreement.

On Aug. 9, Arapahoe District Court Judge Kurt Horton sentenced Tetley to 11 years in the Department of Corrections.

“What does it take to get people to stop getting behind the wheel when they are drunk?” said District Attorney George Brauchler. “Even after Tetley is released from prison to rejoin society, he will know that his selfish decision has snuffed out a bright life. We will continue to seek prison sentences to send the message that this is not acceptable ever. Perhaps one day, our legislature will prioritize the protection of our families on the roads and mandate prison for those who drive intoxicated and kill the innocent; for now, it remains a probation-eligible charge.”

On July 25, 2017, close to midnight, Tetley was driving his 2016 Hyundai Sonata east on East Orchard Road near South Genoa Street in Arapahoe County.

Phoebe was a back seat passenger in a 2011 Audi A4 driven by one of her friends. A third friend was the front seat passenger. They were northbound on South Genoa Street. The friends were taking Phoebe home to meet her curfew after watching movies at the home of another friend.

The Audi was making a left turn onto westbound East Orchard when the Hyundai hit it broadside. Every person involved was seriously injured and taken to a hospital. Phoebe was pronounced dead at Parker Adventist Hospital. The Arapahoe coroner concluded she died from multiple blunt force injuries. The other two occupants suffered multiple broken bones and a traumatic brain injury.

The Colorado State Patrol investigated the crash and determined the Hyundai was speeding at 75 mph three seconds before the crash and 65 mph at the time of impact. The posted limit on that section of East Orchard is 40 mph. The Audi was travelling at 27 mph at the time of the crash.

A trooper who interviewed Tetley at the hospital noted that he had a strong odor of alcohol on his breath, bloodshot eyes and slurred speech. Tetley said he had three beers before driving.

Toxicology reports showed Tetley’s blood-alcohol content was 0.216 grams of ethyl alcohol per 100 mL of blood approximately 45 minutes after the crash. The limit for being under the influence is 0.08.

“Although we are glad we were able to obtain a measure of justice for Phoebe and the other two victims, the fact remains that these families’ lives have been changed irrevocably by the defendant’s selfish and dangerous actions,” said Chief Deputy District Attorney Brian Sugioka, who tried the case with Deputy District Attorney Eric Johnson. “Killing or hurting people while driving drunk is an entirely preventable tragedy. Please don’t drive drunk. Just don’t.”

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