A day after Easter, a horrific accident in Oklahoma City claimed the life of a 22-month-old girl and her parents. Police say the accident occurred when an impaired driver slammed into the family's vehicle in a T-bone collision near W. Reno and S. Rockwell shortly before 11:30 the night of April 6.
Now, and Oklahoma County judge has ordered the driver in that case, Demetrius Jerrod Price, to stand trial for three counts of first degree manslaughter for the deaths of the toddler and her two parents in the fatal DUI accident.
Police say that Price, 22, had an "overwhelming amount of alcohol" on his breath when they responded to the scene of the accident. They said his speech was slurred and he appeared to be unsteady on his feet. Responding officers allege that Price initially admitted that he had been drinking prior to driving, telling police he "had one," but then he immediately began to back-pedal, denying that he had anything to drink. They said he also attempted to shift blame for the accident, saying that the family's car struck him, rather than the other way around.
In most cases, causing a fatal DUI accident is charged as first degree manslaughter. One of the circumstances under which first degree manslaughter occurs is when a death results during the commission of a misdemeanor. A first offense of DUI is typically a misdemeanor; however, subsequent offenses are felonies. Therefore, a person with a prior DUI conviction who causes a fatal accident will be charged with second degree murder rather than first degree manslaughter.
Price has remained in the Oklahoma County Jail since his arrest. A judge set his bond for the manslaughter charges at $60,000 each; however, he is held without bond on multiple complaints, including charges from unrelated incidents. In addition to a the manslaughter charges and a pending drug possession with intent to distribute charge filed just two and half weeks before the accident, Price faces charges of breaking and entering, second degree burglary, DUI, driving a vehicle without a license, failure to carry security verification, making a false declaration of ownership to a pawnbroker, obstructing an officer, unauthorized use of a vehicle, and possession of contraband in a penal institution.
If convicted of first degree manslaughter, the defendant faces a minimum sentence of four years in prison for each count. First degree manslaughter is a violent felony classified as an 85 percent crime, which means anyone convicted must serve at least 85 percent of his or her sentence before achieving parole eligibility.
