AccessMyLibrary provides FREE access to over 30 million articles from top publications available through your library.
Create a link to this page
Copy and paste this link tag into your Web page or blog:
Byline: Robert LaHue
Nov. 1--A Live Oak man has been charged with vehicular manslaughter and driving under the influence causing great bodily injury after an accident in Butte County last month left one man dead, District Attorney Mike Ramsey said Wednesday.
Tommy Lee Schmitz, 37, could face up to 19 years in prison, Ramsey said.
Schmitz was northbound on the Midway between Durham and Chico on Oct. 2. His car, allegedly traveling between 50 mph and 80 mph, was "wildly passing cars," Ramsey said.
Approaching a 35 mph zone, Schmitz allegedly started to make another pass, Ramsey said. But a southbound vehicle was oncoming.
"When (Schmitz) saw he wasn't going to make it, he locked up the brakes, but too late," he said.
Schmitz's passenger, 50-year-old Bobbie Don Hall, Jr. of Chico, was ejected and later pronounced dead, Ramsey said.