A Madison man was convicted of a drugged driving homicide as part of a plea agreement in connection to another’s driver death in a fiery collision on John Nolen Drive.
22-year old Gavin Veium Friday entered a plea of no contest to a charge of homicide by driving under the influence of a controlled substance.
At high speed, Veium slammed into the car of Madison Metro Bus driver Diano McCullough June 23, 2018, with both cars catching fire. In addition to being influenced by a drug, Veium admitted to authorities he had also been drinking.
Assistant Dane County District Attorney William Brown revealed Friday Veium had two positive tests for alcohol in the last few days, in violation of his bail conditions. Brown says Veium maintained the test results were due to him eating a dessert with alcohol as an ingredient.
“I find his explanation to be nonsense,” Brown says. “I tossed his weight and height into a calculator…it seems like he would have had to consume several drinks.”
“It makes me even…sadder that he’s continuing to abuse alcohol after he’s killed someone,” the victim’s niece, Erica McCullough tells 27 News.
For the past four months, Veium’s been free after $2,500 bail was posted. Judge William Hanrahan revoked Veium’s bail Friday.
Brown says there’s no agreement between Veium and prosecutors on a recommended sentence to Hanrahan. The single, felony charge Veium’s convicted of carries a maximum sentence of twenty-five years.
“I’m just hoping that I can remain confident in our justice system to deliver justice,” says McCullough, who believes Veium should receive a significant prison term. “I know that Wisconsin is not usually a state that’s big on DUIs (driving while under the influence). We give a lot of chances.”
For more go to WKOW: https://wkow.com/news/top-stories/2019/01/04/drugged-driving-conviction-connected-to-fiery-madison-crash/