Four-year sentence for motorist who struck and killed Drake Okusako
This regarding Drake Okusako’s death in today’s AZ Daily Star:
Tucson man gets 4-year prison sentence in death of soccer coach
Brian J. Pedersen Arizona Daily Star | Posted: Monday, April 12, 2010 9:24 am
A 20-year-old Tucson man was sentenced Monday to four years in prison for a 2009 crash that killed a popular youth soccer coach.
Jesse James Segebartt was driving erratically and weaving in and out of traffic on the morning of May 29 when he veered into the bike lane on South Alvernon Way near East Broadway, striking and killing bicyclist Drake K. Okusako, police said.
Okusako, 55, was wearing a helmet but was pronounced dead at the scene.
Segebartt fled the scene of the crash but was arrested later that day at an apartment near Alvernon and East Grant Road and booked on suspicion of leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death, police said.
Segebartt was indicted in June on manslaughter and leaving the scene charges. On March 1 he entered guilty pleas before Pima County Superior Court Judge Deborah Bernini to the leaving the scene charge and a reduced negligent homicide charge, court records show.
Okusako, known affectionally as “Coach Oak,” had been a volunteer coach with the Randolph Soccer Club.
I have not spoken with Drake’s family in some time but the last exchange I had with his brother indicated that the family was not eager to pursue a maximum sentence against Segebartt. I believe Drake’s brother said something to the effect of not wanting to “ruin a young life” over the incident. He expressed hope that Segebartt would have a chance to turn himself around and lead a fruitful life.
I hope so too.
–Erik Ryberg
April 12th, 2010 at 3:42 pm
The local newspaper, BTW, will defend its “wearing/not wearing helmet” line by insisting that its readers demand to know. In truth, it takes only one or two people with the courage to complain or cajole to get the ADS to make policy.
Having studied news reports of fatal bike accidents here from 2005-2009, I’m starting to think mirror > helmet.
April 12th, 2010 at 5:31 pm
When you take a couple steps
back and look at what was lost
and try to balance it with the
reason it happened, it’s seems
too lopsided. There should be a
way to ‘weight’ the sentnce with
requirements that force the turning-
around with a bit more guaranty for
the public.
April 12th, 2010 at 8:23 pm
I have to go with the wishes of the family on this one, as much as I would like to personally push the button that sends the kill-juice flowing into that waste of skin’s vein. They said not to give him the maximum, so since they’re the representatives of the injured party what they say carries a lot of weight.
They said to temper justice with mercy, so mercy it is.
April 13th, 2010 at 7:39 am
I am always impressed by people with that much compassion. I am not sure I could ever do the same if I were in a similar situation.
In addition to the jail time, I’d like to see them take his license for the rest of his life.
April 13th, 2010 at 8:32 am
I agree with Tucson Velo. The best punishment/lesson would be to take away his privilege to drive.
April 13th, 2010 at 11:26 am
[...] Bicycling Hall of Fame opens in Davis later this month. An Arizona driver gets four years for the death of a popular cyclist and soccer coach. An Anchorage woman commits to not driving for a month by freezing her car keys in [...]
April 18th, 2010 at 10:24 am
[...] [Verdict April 12, 2010] The driver who killed Drake Okusako plead guilty, and received a 4-year prison sentence. “On March 1 he (Segebartt) entered guilty pleas before Pima County Superior Court Judge Deborah Bernini to the leaving the scene charge and a reduced negligent homicide charge” [...]
April 18th, 2010 at 7:21 pm
Does anyone know if there are any plans already in the works to put a ghost bike up for Coach Okusako? If not, I’d like to get one going for him. I could use advice on how to stabilize it at the site (concrete base, possibly), and if anyone knows who does what look like lasar-cut name plates I’ve seen on other ghost bikes and who might be available to weld the name plate on. I’d like to get one done and up next to where he died in front of the Randolph Recreation Center by the anniversary of his death on the 29th of May. Can any of you give me a hand or advice on this? Thanks in advance. – Stephanie
April 19th, 2010 at 9:05 am
I assume(?) that police looked and found no evidence of impairment. If i remember correctly (the link to the original star articles, although it was a hit-and-run, he was appended a relatively short time later. I.e. soon enough to detect drugs/alcohol if that were a factor.
That would make this case highly out of the ordinary — a homicide charge against an un-impaired driver.