DUI Blogger

A drunk driver accused of causing a single-car crash in Burbank that killed one passenger and injured three others last year, has pleaded no contest to the charges, according to this Los Angeles Daily News article. According to the report, 24-year-old Michael Scott Christenson pleaded no contest to one count of gross vehicular manslaughter and three counts of DUI causing injury. Christenson was driving a 2007 Honda Accord when it jumped a center median and hit two trees and a wall. The auto accident killed Eric Flesher, 24, of Los Angeles.

Christenson will be sentenced next month and faces a 12-year state prison term. However, the murder charge against him is expected to be dismissed, the news report said. In California, vehicular manslaughter that does not involve gross negligence may be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony, depending on the circumstances. But, vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence is always charged as a felony and the court could impose up to 10 years of prison time as opposed to much lesser jail time for charges that do not involve gross negligence.

The article does not say if the charges against Christenson contain gross negligence, but based on the stiff prison term he faces, it certainly seems that it involves the more serious charge. Gross negligence is defined as driving without caution and without concern for the safety of others and generally has the driver exhibiting a high level of recklessness.

If you have been charged with DUI and vehicular manslaughter in California you definitely need the services of a first tier law firm to represent you and have your case defended successfully. Please contact me for a free consultation and to learn more about how we defend vehicular manslaughter allegations.