Several months after they were involved in separate fatal DUI accidents, two men have been charged in Oklahoma County with manslaughter.

Michael Thanh Nguyen, 23, is the driver of a vehicle that slammed into a vacant building in the Uptown district of Oklahoma City last March. Two passengers--21-year-old Victor Troung and 20-year-old Timothy Tran--died at the scene. Nguyen and another passenger, 22-year-old Thomas Tran, were transported to OU Medical Center in critical condition. Thomas Tran died of his injuries three days after the accident.

Investigators say blood alcohol testing conducted on Nguyen after the accident show that he was intoxicated at the time of the crash.

Now, Nguyen is charged in Oklahoma County District Court with three counts of first degree manslaughter for the accident which killed his friends.

Also charged with first degree manslaughter in Oklahoma County District Court this week is Dustin Shane Hall, 31. Police say Hall admitted to texting while driving and being under the influence of sleeping pills and anti-anxiety medication when he rear-ended a vehicle near NE 10th and Bryant. The accident killed the driver of that vehicle, Ronald Banton, 27. Banton's 5-year-old son was also in the vehicle, but escaped without injury.

Hall was arrested at the scene on complaints of DUI, causing a fatality accident, and driving without a license.

Now, he is charged with first degree manslaughter for the accident that claimed a young father's life.

Manslaughter is a felony act of homicide that lacks the intent to kill noted in murder charges. According to 21 O.S. 711, first degree manslaughter occurs when a death results from one of the following circumstances:

  1. When perpetrated without a design to effect death by a person while engaged in the commission of a misdemeanor.  
  2. When perpetrated without a design to effect death, and in a heat of passion, but in a cruel and unusual manner, or by means of a dangerous weapon; unless it is committed under such circumstances as constitute excusable or justifiable homicide.  
  3. When perpetrated unnecessarily either while resisting an attempt by the person killed to commit a crime, or after such attempt shall have failed.

By statute, first degree manslaughter in Oklahoma is punishable by a minimum of four years in prison. It is considered a violent felony, and it is one of Oklahoma's "85 Percent Crimes." Anyone convicted of one of the 22 felonies specified in 21 O.S. 13.1 must serve at least 85 percent of his or her sentence before even having a chance at parole. A person convicted of first degree manslaughter and given the minimum sentence would be required to serve nearly 3-1/2 years of the 4-year term before becoming eligible for parole.