A Mechanicsville man has been sentenced to 90 days in jail after pleading guilty to the misdemeanor charge of Criminal Negligent Manslaughter by Vehicle. Randy Whiten, 40, was the driver of a car on June 30 of this that ran a red light and struck another car, killing its driver. According to testimony at a plea and sentencing hearing Friday in St. Mary’s County Circuit Court Whiten fell asleep at the wheel.

Killed in the crash at the Route 235/First Colony Boulevard intersection in California was U.S. Navy Lieutenant Commander Keith Hanson, 39, of Frisco, Texas and formerly of Hollywood. Hanson had been formerly attached to a squadron at Pax River but was transferred to Texas. The family retained their Hollywood home and had returned to St.  Mary’s County to prepare it for rental. Hanson’s wife and eight-year-old daughter were also injured in the crash but were subsequently released.

The maximum sentence under state law for the offense is three years. But Deputy State’s Attorney Jamie Sterling explained to presiding Judge David Densford that the plea agreement was done at the behest of the victim’s family in order to save them the agony of a trial and also out of compassion for the defendant.

Whiten’s attorney Ian Pesetsky of Prince Frederick said his client had gotten off work and stopped for a break at Wawa in an effort to stay awake. “He thought he could make it home,” the attorney said. The attorney noted that neither alcohol nor drugs were involved in the accident.

Sterling noted that Whiten stayed on the scene and cooperated with police. She said: “The State does not allege that the defendant intended to harm, let alone kill Mr. Hanson on the evening of June 30, 2012.  There is no allegation that the Defendant was under the influence of any alcohol or drugs when he was operating his motor vehicle. There is no evidence of excessive speed.  However, when the Defendant failed to heed clear warning signs of drowsiness and makes the conscious decision to keep driving, falls asleep at the wheel and subsequently collides with Mr. Keith Hanson’s vehicle, ultimately killing Mr. Hanson and injuring Mrs. Jennifer Hanson and their young daughter, that act is a criminal one:  Specifically, criminally negligent manslaughter by a motor vehicle.”

Sterling added, “There is no question that the Defendant made an extremely poor decision to continue to drive during his physical state of fatigue and exhaustion.  If the Defendant just listened to his body, pulled over and slept off his fatigue, Mr. Hanson would probably be alive preparing for his favorite holiday, Christmas, with his family today.” 

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