An Ethan man pleaded not guilty Tuesday to vehicular homicide and three other charges stemming from a crash that killed an 18-year-old man from Alexandria.
Tate Thompson, 18, also pleaded not guilty Tuesday to vehicular battery, hit and run causing injury or death and driving under the influence during a circuit court session at the Davison County Public Safety Center in Mitchell.
The charges stem from a June 25 crash near the intersection of 258th Street and 409th Avenue in rural Davison County when a vehicle, driven by Thompson, entered the ditch, according to authorities. The crash killed 18-year-old Dylan Mentele, of Alexandria, and injured a 17-year-old female passenger from Mitchell, who was airlifted to a Sioux Falls hospital due to life-threatening injuries.
Thompson allegedly consumed alcohol before the crash and walked away from the scene.
Thompson waived his right to a speedy trial and was scheduled to appear before a Davison County jury in December.
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Thompson is charged with vehicular homicide, a Class 3 felony, punishable upon conviction by up to 15 years in prison and a $30,000 fine; vehicular battery, a Class 4 felony, punishable upon conviction by up to 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine; hit and run, a Class 6 felony, punishable upon conviction by up to two years in prison and a $4,000 fine; and DUI, a Class 1 misdemeanor, punishable upon conviction by up to one year in jail and a $2,000 fine.
Thompson has already been released from custody but was admonished by the judge to follow all the conditions of his bond.
