Prosecutors fight to have driver waived into adult court after crash killed HSE football star

HAMILTON COUNTY, Ind. -- Hamilton County prosecutors fight to have an 18-year-old accused of reckless homicide waived into an adult court following a fatal crash that killed a Hamilton Southeastern football player.




After listening to nearly three hours of testimony and multiple witnesses, a judge in Hamilton County said she would decide on Friday whether or not to waive the suspect into adult court.




The death of Mason Alexander, at just 18 years old, devastated the Hamilton Southeastern community.




Alexander, who wore number 15 for the Royals, was a star on the football field. 




After graduating early, he planned to play football for the University of Pittsburgh.




That dream ended on March 1 with a car crash on Florida Road, when a car Alexander was a passenger in swerved off the road, slammed into a tree and caught fire.




"Mason meant the world to all of us and we're speaking for him when he can't," said the victim's uncle, Rahvy Murray.

Mason's friends and family filled every seat in the courtroom during a hearing about whether to waive the suspect into adult court. They want the driver of the car, who was 17 years old at the time of the crash, but who has since turned 18, to be charged as an adult with reckless homicide.




Prosecutors claim the suspect was driving at least 56 miles per hour in a 35 zone when he tried to illegally pass another car, then lost control trying to avoid a head-on collision.




A witness told investigators the suspect passed them driving "like it was the Indy 500."




"We hope that the court does make the right decision because, as we see it, it was an adult act, so we want to make sure justice is done," said Murray. "Mason's life meant something.  He had the whole world ahead of him and he had a bright future extinguished due to one act that could have been prevented."




While they understand the pain the community feels, the suspect's attorneys argued the teen was not intoxicated at the time of the crash and they insist the 18-year-old does not represent a threat to the community and should be kept in the juvenile system.




The suspect did have a trace amount of marijuana in his urine following the crash. His blood was not tested.




In addition to reckless homicide, the suspect is also charged with reckless driving and using a false government identification.




If the case is waived into adult court and the suspect is convicted of reckless homicide as a level 5 felony, the maximum punishment would be six years behind bars.




If he remains in the juvenile system, he would be free after 120 days.




After the court hearing, dozens of the victim's friends and family came out of court and found parking tickets on their cars. They said that illustrated again the lack of respect they feel they've gotten from the legal system.





via: https://fox59.com/news/indycrime/prosecutors-fight-to-have-driver-waived-into-adult-court-after-crash-killed-hse-football-star/