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SHELBYVILLE, Ky. (June 14, 2016) - Yesterday, a 23-year-old Washington State man pled guilty to charges stemming from a five vehicle crash, leaving one dead, in Shelby County in May of 2015.
This case highlights the dangers of distracted driving and its possible fatal consequences. The convictions stem from a May 13, 2015 fatal collision which occurred on I-64 westbound in Shelby County. The tractor trailer driver was distracted by his hand-held device and failed to notice traffic had slowed for a motorist assist on the shoulder of the roadway. His tractor trailer struck the car in front of him, killing the driver instantly, causing a chain reaction involving three other vehicles.
Miroslav Kuzmanovic, age 23, of Lakewood, WA, pled guilty to Manslaughter 2nd, which can carry a sentence of up to 10 years in prison. He also pled to one count of Wanton Endangerment 1st, which can carry a sentence of up to five years in prison. There was an addition guilty plea to a federal charge of Prohibited Use of a Handheld Device.
Sentencing will be held on August 15, 2016 in Shelby County Circuit Court.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 10 percent of fatal crashes, 18 percent of injury crashes and 16 percent of all police-reported motor vehicle traffic crashes in 2014 were reported as distraction-affected crashes.
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