Sheriff: DUI teen kills motorcyclist in crash
-
PCSD
A 17-year-old was charged with manslaughter and drunk driving following a Northwest Side wreck Sunday night. A motorcyclist was killed after colliding with a car driven by the teen and again by an SUV swerving to avoid the first crash, authorities said.
Due to procedural issues, the charges were dismissed Monday but are likely to be refiled once blood test results are available, authorities said.
Alyssa Franks, driving a passenger car, failed to yield exiting the Mission Palms Apartments on West Orange Grove Road, near North Oracle Road, around 8:45 p.m., officials said.
A motorcycle traveling eastbound collided with the car, a Pima County Sheriff's Department spokesman said.
"The passenger car continued across Orange Grove Road and collided with a guard rail on the north side of the road. A westbound SUV swerved to avoid the car and collided with the motorcyclist who was on the ground," said Deputy Tracy Suitt.
The 46-year-old rider, Robin Rawlings, was pronounced dead at the scene before she could be taken to a hospital, Suitt said.
Franks was taken to the Pima County Adult Detention Complex and booked on one count each of manslaughter and driving under the influence, Suitt said. TucsonSentinel.com is naming her because she was charged as an adult.
Because blood test results were not yet available, prosecutors asked that the case be dismissed until they are ready to move forward, Suitt said. The deputy described the temporary dismissal as a common legal move in DUI cases.
More by Dylan Smith
- Biden, Hobbs order flags to half-staff to honor victims of Nashville school shooting
- AG Mayes seeks community beefs on Albertsons-Kroger merger
- Lift a glass & sing along: St. Patrick's Day playlist
- Don't touch that clock! Rest of U.S. springing ahead to Daylight Saving Time
- Pima Supes appoint Holocaust denier as Libertarian Party official
- More stories »
