A former Braden River HS football coach is facing DUI manslaughter charges and will be tried beginning 4-19-10. The defendant appeared in a Sarasota courtroom Monday for a hearing.
The case against him is tough. It includes BAC levels of nearly 3 times Florida’s legal limit, police reports indicating there was empty and full Michelob beer bottles and cans in the Ex-coach’s Ford pickup truck and a testimony from Venice High School football coach John Peacock that the suspect was drinking at a party before the deadly wreck that killed his passenger. An FHP report also states that the suspect smelled of alcohol and had watery, bloodshot eyes at the scene.
The good news for the defendant is that the manslaughter charges requires not only proof that he was driving under the influence, but that he contributed to the crash in some way. Both unharmed passengers in the Ford truck claim the defendant swerved to avoid hitting a deer.
I can easily see this man avoiding a DUI manslaughter charge because I see no way of proving he contributed to the crash. However, the passengers credibility could be skewed. Updates as they are available.
Have you been accused of DUI in Sarasota? If so please fill out the form to the right or call 941-916-3627 for your free consultation. Our FL DUI attorneys can handle your case whether you were arrested in Venice, Sarasota, North Port, Longboat Key or smaller municipality such as Braden River.
