Teen Facing Vehicular Homicide In Death of Friend
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A Jacksonville, Florida teenager has been charged with vehicular homicide in the death of his friend in an accident that happened in Mandarin last June.
17-year-old Daniel R. Farren had been drinking during the early morning of June 23rd. Police later said that he had a blood-alcohol of 0.04, not legally intoxicated, but enough to be “buzzed”, and enough to have one's sense impaired. When Farren got behind the wheel of a friend's BMW, he was heading west on Thoroughbred Boulevard at 68 mph in a 30 mph zone. Farren hit the brakes then hit a tree about 1:45 a.m. Corey Kelley, 18, and Robert Wiggins, 19 were both critically injured.
A couple of things have happened since that day. Farren turned 18 and Wiggins died one week after the crash. Kelley survived. Farren was the only one wearing a seat belt and he suffered only minor injuries.
Vehicular homicide means the killing of a human being by the operation of a motor vehicle by a person in a reckless manner likely to cause death or great bodily harm to another.
Before being found guilty, a Florida jury must also find that he operated the car in a reckless manner. Farren has been jailed on $100,000 bail.
The fact that he was 17 at the time may have some impact if the judge considers his immaturity and poor judgment for drinking and going 38 mph over the speed limit. But vehicular homicide is a second degree felony which can result in up to a $10,000 fine and up to 15 years in prison.
Besides that, Farren will have to live with the death. Our condolences all around for another senseless waste of life.