Sheriff’s Deputy Charged With Manslaughter in July Car Crash
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A Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy, accused of causing a fatal car crash while on duty in July, has been charged with vehicular manslaughter.
Deputy Brian William Degen was responding to a radio call in the city of Industry on July 5 when he allegedly sped through an intersection and hit a Datsun 280 Z, killing the driver.
Degen, confined to a wheelchair as a result of his injuries in the crash, pleaded not guilty at his Los Angeles Municipal Court arraignment Friday. He was released pending a Feb. 6 hearing to schedule a preliminary hearing.
Killed in the accident was Ricardo Castaneda, whose car was split in half on impact with Degen’s patrol car in the intersection of Nelson and Sunset avenues.
The 30-year-old deputy was responding to an unrelated report of a knife assault--with red lights flashing and siren on, said Deputy Dist. Atty. Bill Seki. Degen was driving about 80 mph at the time of the accident, Seki said.
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