Aurora – The 16-year-old driver in a crash that killed two of his Smoky Hill High classmates will be cited with five misdemeanors for careless driving and several traffic infractions in the Dec. 27 wreck.
Police say Michael Stillwagon told detectives he became distracted while driving the 2002 Kia on South Parker Road when someone from the rear seat grabbed his arm or the steering wheel, causing him to lose control of the car.
The Kia crossed the median and slammed into two oncoming cars. Both 17-year-old rear-seat passengers, Ian Wallace and Joshua Bankett-Land, died. They weren’t wearing seat belts.
A police accident reconstruction based on skid marks, debris measurements and reports from the scene confirmed the car abruptly swerved to the right and then was jerked to the left.
“We have been able to confirm that through the accident reconstruction that the car did abruptly jerk to the right and the abrupt steering to the left was likely driver inexperience, which is a driver’s responsibility,” police spokesman Marcus Dudley said Thursday.
Seventeen-year-old Alton Coward, who was in the front passenger seat, told investigators that Bankett-Land and Wallace were “goofing off” but that he didn’t see anyone reach from behind because he was text- messaging someone on his cellphone.
Coward suffered minor injuries, and Stillwagon suffered a broken nose.
Coward, reached on Thursday, wouldn’t comment. Phone messages left with the families of Stillwagon and Wallace weren’t returned. Bankett-Land’s family couldn’t be reached for comment.
The misdemeanor charges carry a possible sentencing range of zero to 18 months in jail for each count and fines of up to $5,000. The other charges could bring jail, fines, community service or points against Stillwagon’s driver’s license. The sentencing will be determined later by a judge.
Stillwagon also was cited under a new law that forbids minors from having other teenage passengers in their car during the first six months of having a license. Stillwagon had obtained his license in September, police said. And he was cited for a seat-belt violation. State law demands that a driver under 17 ensure that all occupants wear their seat belts.
The 18th Judicial District attorney’s office had been consulted on the charges, said Kathleen Walsh, DA spokeswoman.
“Based on the facts of the case,” she said, “we agree with the charges.”
Staff writer Jeremy Meyer can be reached at 303-820-1175 or jpmeyer@denverpost.com.
