- Elizabeth Larson
- Posted On
Willits man charged with vehicular manslaughter for fatal December 2013 crash
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A Willits man has been charged with vehicular manslaughter for the crash that killed a young husband and father of three last December.
The District Attorney's Office filed charges against Wayne Leroy Caldwell in the case on June 13, according to Chief Deputy District Attorney Richard Hinchcliff.
Caldwell is charged with two misdemeanors – vehicular manslaughter and driving on a suspended license – for the crash on Dec. 7, 2013, that killed 26-year-old Brandon Helmer of Kelseyville.
The California Highway Patrol said that Caldwell, driving a 1994 Dodge Ram pickup northbound on Highway 29 south of Cruickshank Road outside of Kelseyville, crossed the double-yellow lines and drifted into the path of Helmer's 1992 Acura Integra, hitting it head-on.
Helmer died at the scene, while Caldwell suffered minor injuries, according to the original report.
The Clear Lake Area office of the CHP confirmed to Lake County News this week that Caldwell was driving on a suspended license at the time of the crash.
Two tests of Caldwell's blood showed he was not impaired by alcohol or any substances, the CHP said.
Hinchcliff said Caldwell has not yet made a court appearance in the case, and no arraignment has yet been scheduled.
Helmer left behind wife Kate, three young daughters and a baby to be born this summer.
A Go Fund Me page for the Helmer family, http://www.gofundme.com/HelmerFamily , was started in December and remains active. It has raised more than $45,000 to help the young family make ends meet.
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