Preston man pleads guilty for his role in fatal car crash

Kalin Menlove-McGinni listens to testimony during his preliminary hearing for felony manslaughter, in 1st District Court in Logan on Tuesday.

LOGAN — A 24-year-old Preston man has pleaded guilty for his involvement in the fatal crash that killed a Richmond man in 2014. Kalin R. Menlove-McGinni will now wait to be sentenced in January.

Menlove-Mcginni appeared in 1st District Court Monday afternoon. He accepted a plea deal, pleading to a reduced charge of attempted manslaughter, a third-degree felony. As part of the agreement, prosecutors dropped a remaining charge for not having proof of insurance, a class B misdemeanor.

Utah Highway Patrol troopers report Menlove-McGinni was driving a gray minivan northbound on US-91, in September 2014. Near the intersection of SR-61 in Cove, the vehicle drifted into the median, striking a black Jeep Wrangler from behind, driven by 42-year-old Leigh Purser. The impact pushed the Jeep into the southbound lane, where it was hit again by a Dodge pickup truck.

Purser was not wearing a seat belt and is believed to have died on impact. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Prosecutors claim Menlove-McGinni fell asleep while driving home to Preston after working all night at a call center. They said the defendant told troopers after the accident, he had slept only three-hours during the previous three-days.

During Monday’s court appearance state attorney Spencer Walsh said Menlove-McGinni acted recklessly in choosing to operate his vehicle on the morning of the crash.

Menlove-McGinni is scheduled to be sentenced January 2. He faces up to five-years in prison.

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