A San Fernando man pleaded no contest Wednesday to one count of vehicular manslaughter in connection to a fatal March 1 crash in Newhall.
Prosecutors initially charged Sean Alexander O’Donnell, 44, with three felonies: gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, a DUI that caused injury and driving with a blood-alcohol content above .08, which is the legal limit for drivers aged 21 years and older.
O’Donnell pleaded no contest to the vehicular manslaughter charge, as well as an allegation that he has “suffered prior convictions as an adult and sustained petitions in juvenile delinquency proceedings that are numerous and of increasing seriousness.”
He waived both his speedy trial and right to be sentenced by the judge, consenting to a “pre-plea interview” before his formal sentencing set for Oct. 29.
At that time, the court also is expected to hear any victim-impact statements and a restitution hearing.
Shortly after the crash, Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station officials who investigated the crash said they suspected that O’Donnell and Sean Brown, 56, also a San Fernando Valley resident, were traveling at a high rate of speed on Railroad Avenue the night of the crash.
Deputies did not indicate how the two knew each other.
The crash involved hitting an electrical pole near the intersection of Railroad Avenue and Market Street, and then continuing down Railroad Avenue, and coming to a stop at 6th Street.
O’Donnell remains free in lieu of $100,000 bail while he awaits sentencing.
