From The Reporter / San Jose Mercury News
A former airman pleaded guilty on Wednesday in Solano County Superior Court to charges related to a fatal DUI collision that killed a Fairfield man last year.
Tyler N. Scott, 23, entered guilty pleas to one count of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and one count of driving under the influence of alcohol causing injury in connection with the May 25, 2011, collision that killed George Smith, 60. In exchange for his guilty pleas, Solano County prosecutors dismissed a charge of second-degree murder and a secondary charge driving under the influence.
The pleas came just before the second day of a jury trial was set to begin.
According to testimony at a December preliminary hearing, Scott was driving at a high rate of speed westbound on Cement Hill Road at about 11:20 p.m. when he crossed into oncoming traffic and struck a Nissan XTerra SUV head-on. The SUV was driven by Smith, who was flown by air ambulance to an area trauma center, where he was pronounced dead from injuries sustained in the crash, police said.
Officers testified that Scott initially lied about his drinking that day but later admitted he had consumed about five or six shots and some rum and colas earlier in the day.
A forensic technician testified that Scott’s blood-alcohol content when taken an hour after the crash was .20, more than twice the legal limit. …MORE