9/26/11
by Perry Miller
A brief court appearance this morning for the man charged in the
crash that killed a Brookings teen.
Eighteen-year-old Jose Hernandez is charged with vehicular homicide,
manslaughter in the first degree, second-degree manslaughter and
felony hit and run.
Through his attorney, Hernandez requested a preliminary hearing
and that has been set for October 4th.
Hernandez is accused of being the driver of an SUV that ran a
red light and collided with a car driven by 17-year-old John Bennett
of rural Brookings. Bennett was killed in the crash.
Hernandez allegedly fled the scene of the crash and left town. He later
turned himself in to police in Austin, Texas. Court records say
Hernandez admitted he was the driver and sole occupant of the SUV.
He was reportedly working on a construction project in the area. His
address is listed as Alta, Iowa.
Hernandez is being held at the Brookings County Jail. His bond is
set at 100-thousand dollars cash.
The most serious charge, first-degree manslaughter, carries
a maximum penalty of life in prison.
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