Posted: Thu 4:11 PM, Jun 02, 2016 |
Updated: Thu 11:23 PM, Jun 02, 2016
WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) The affidavit, detailing the case against a man reported to have been driving under the influence and causing a May 6 fatal crash in Wichita, was released Thursday.
A little before 4 p.m. May 6, Wichita police officers were dispatched to an injury crash at West Newell and North Young on the south side of the city.
Witnesses said they observed a white Cadillac Escalade running a stop sign, eastbound on Newell at Bahr Street. The Escalade collided with a minivan from Starkey, Inc., an organization that helps adults with developmental disabilities.
Police say the Escalade was driven by 56-year-old Bret Blevins. They say he was driving under the influence at the time of the collision.
A witness to the crash says he observed Blevins trying to undo his seat belt from the driver's seat of the crashed SUV and also observed a small bottle of alcohol in the vehicle. A passenger in the SUV was also injured. Initially, police say Blevins denied being behind the wheel of the Escalade at the time of the crash.
After attempting to render aid on a passenger ejected from the minivan, the witness said he observed Blevins crawling out of the passenger side of the SUV and leaving the scene on foot.
The witness said he tried to stop Blevins. Court documents say officers caught up with Blevins and observed that he smelt strongly of alcohol, that his eyes were glazed, watery and bloodshot and that his speech was slurred.
Blevins was transported back to the scene of the crash and assessed by EMS. Police spoke with more witnesses and determined the Escalade was speeding at the time of the crash.
The passenger in the Escalade was interviewed by police the day after the crash, court documents say. The passenger said she and Blevins were on their way back to Blevins' house when the crash occurred. She said she saw the stop sign, but didn't think Blevins was paying attention.
The two passengers from the Starkey van who died from their injuries in the crash were pronounced dead at a Wichita hospital a few hours after the collision occurred.
On May 20, the district attorney's office charged Blevins with two counts of involuntary manslaughter, four counts of aggravated battery, leaving the scene of an accident and driving while suspended.