Court testimony reveals new details about a DUI crash that took the life of an Omaha teen. Witnesses say the suspect, Tyvinn Smith, was going 70-90 miles an hour and didn't even slow down.
The 28-year-old Smith is charged with motor vehicle homicide, and DUI crash with serious bodily injury. A judge finds enough evidence to move him to trial on Tuesday in Douglas County Court.
The evening of June 24, Janis Brown, 16, was stopped at a stoplight with her sister and brother in the car at Wenninghoff Road & Sorenson Parkway. A Douglas County Sheriff’s Deputy testified that Smith slammed into the back on the vehicle killing Brown and injuring her brother and sister.
Tests reveal that Smith allegedly had cocaine and PCP in his system and a .12 Blood Alcohol Content.
"We believe that not only speed but alcohol and drugs were a contributing factor to this so I don't know how much more reckless you can get when you add all of those together,” said Deputy Douglas Co. Attorney Brenda Beadle.
Authorities believe the suspect may have been involved in another nearby crash minutes earlier.
Witnesses say Smith tried to flee the scene, even trying to steal a witness' car. He also had his license revoked and no insurance.
"It was an accident," Smith said in court while visibly upset.
Brown's mother says she doesn't want her surviving daughter to have to relive the pain at trial and has a message for Smith.
"My plea to him is that if he really is remorseful to just plead guilty and don't put us through this, we've been hurt enough," Carlotta Vaughn, Brown’s mother, explained.
If convicted of motor vehicle homicide and DUI serious bodily injury, Smith faces 1-53 years in prison. He's being held at the Douglas County Jail on $750,000 bond.
