Driver of truck in fatal off-road accident sentenced to 30 days

By Tim Grenda

Published on November 20, 2007

San Luis Obispo County Superior Court Judge Dodie A. Harman, in handing down the sentence reached through a plea agreement between attorneys, noted that the driver of the truck, Shawn Brandon Evans, 25, of Atascadero, did not intend to hurt anyone. The judge said the incident was “absolutely the most tragic for the court to handle.”

Jerry Carter, 27, was killed and three others riding on the ATV with him were hurt on July 1, 2006. Evans was driving his off-road truck over a sandy dune ledge when it landed on top of the ATV being ridden by Carter and others. Evans pleaded no contest to vehicular manslaughter without gross negligence, a misdemeanor.

About 30 members of Carter’s family crammed into Harman’s courtroom on November 19 and urged the judge to impose a longer jail sentence than was agreed to in the plea bargain. In addition to spending 30 days in jail, Evans must also spend two years on probation and complete 200 hours of community service.

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