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Teen Facing Vehicular Homicide In Another Teen's Death

By Eddie Farah

The friends and family of Miranda Zant will be celebrating her 17th birthday this Saturday, but Miranda won't be there.

She was killed last July when the pickup truck in which she was riding rolled onto her. Now the driver is being charged in her death.

Zant, and a number of other teens, had attended a birthday party for Joel David Stauder who was turning 19. The party lasted until the early morning hours of July 27.

That's when Stauder got behind the wheel of his pickup truck to drive everyone home. Since there were six kids and only three seats in the cab, three of the teens decided to ride in the bed of the pickup.

But according to police, Stauder was driving recklessly and too fast in the 13000 block of Bartram Park Boulevard in Mandarin, just south of Jacksonville and Old St. Augustine Road. Traveling at twice the 40 mph speed limit, the pickup flipped, and rolled several times, throwing Zant and two others riding in the bed out of the vehicle.

Zant, a student at Lee High School, was pronounced dead at the scene. Four other teens were seriously injured. Another young woman, Samantha Gibson, was in critical condition.

Now Stauder has been charged with vehicular homicide. He turned himself into the Jacksonville Sheriff's office on Wednesday and was later released on $10,000 bail.

Our hearts go out to the family and friends of this beautiful young lady as well as the injured teen who was in ICU. We wish her a speedy recovery.

According to Florida law, no matter what your age, the legal limit for intoxication is 0.08.

The State Attorney's office decided to press charges because Stauder's blood-alcohol level was reported by police to be .095, well above the 0.08 level for intoxication. And police report he was driving recklessly and speeding.

Another law was broken. Florida law prevents anyone under the age of 18 from riding in the bed of a pickup truck when operated on any state, county or municipal road. And all children under the age of 18 must wear a seatbelt in Florida. Until recently when the law was changed, adults faced a ticket for failing to buckle up as a secondary offense only. Now you can be pulled over for not wearing your seat belt.

Vehicular homicide charges are a second-degree felony. Stauder could spend 15-years in prison if convicted.

Ironically, he had just completed a driver improvement course after receiving a speeding ticket. No doubt that added to the decision to charge him. Clearly, the classes did not deter him from speeding.

It's a tragedy all around. #

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Eddie Farah

Full post as published by Jacksonville Personal Injury Lawyer on September 11, 2009 (boomark / email).