Cal Erickson Mullen sentenced to 5 years in prison for death of Wyman Hewitt.

From Montana Standard

HELENA –

05/14/2015 — Following emotional testimony Wednesday morning in Lewis & Clark County District Court, Cal Erickson Mullen, 23, was sentenced to prison for felony vehicular homicide while drunk.

In an agreement with prosecutors, Mullen admitted to rolling his pickup truck on the northbound lane of Interstate 15 near Montana City in the early morning hours of June 14, 2014.

His blood alcohol level was three times the legal limit.

After he walked away from the scene, a vehicle carrying four people leaving a school reunion slammed into the truck, killing Wyman Hewitt and severely injuring three others.

During sentencing Wednesday, Mullen apologized to the families involved and to the state of Montana for his actions, vowing to never drink again.

Before handing down his sentence, Judge Loren Tucker commended Wyman Hewitt’s parents for their generous and compassionate statements to the court prior to sentencing.

“I can’t begin to explain the pain I feel,” said Dave Hewitt. “It’s actually sucked the life out of me. It’s just intense.”

“It’s my sincere hope that you live a redemptive life,” Kimberly Hewitt told Mullen. “One that values and honors those that love you, and that have stood by you through this tragedy, and that no one else ever suffers the heartbreak brought about by your use of alcohol.”

Judge Tucker sentenced Mullen to 20 years with the Department of Corrections, with 15 years suspended for Vehicular Homicide While Under the Influence, 10 years with five suspended for Negligent Vehicular Assault, and six months in the county jail for two counts of misdemeanor negligent vehicular assault.

Mullen will serve the sentences concurrently, with a total of 5 years in prison.

Mullen must complete an in-treatment program for DUI offenders who have killed someone.

He was also ordered to pay $102,000 in restitution to the victims in this case.

Fatal DUI –

08/06/2014  — Authorities say both drivers involved in a fatal crash on Interstate 15 were under the influence of alcohol at the time.

Both Clancy men face felony charges in the death of a 38-year-old man.

One of the vehicles in the June 14 wreck was carrying people who were celebrating their 20th high school reunion.

One of the drivers, 22-year-old Cal Erickson Mullen, turned himself in Tuesday afternoon on a warrant for vehicular homicide while under the influence and negligent vehicular assault.

Mullen is accused of having a blood alcohol content of 0.265, which is three times the legal limit, when he crashed his pickup near Montana City. Charging documents say Mullen had been drinking at a Helena bar and was heading home when he failed to negotiate a curve. He lost control of the truck, which landed in the opposite lane facing oncoming traffic.

He then exited the truck. Prosecutors say he made no effort to warn oncoming vehicles or alert authorities of the wreck and this negligence caused the death and injuries.

A 2010 Nissan Murano driven by Jason West, 42, was carrying three passengers. The group had been celebrating its reunion in Clancy and was headed to Helena for breakfast at about 1:30 a.m.

The Nissan collided with Mullen’s unoccupied pickup. Investigators …MORE

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