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Probation In Escambia DUI Death Case
April 20, 2011
An Escambia County man has been sentenced to 12 months probation in a 2010 fatal accident.
Tyler Neal Wass, 26, pleaded no contest Tuesday to a misdemeanor DUI charge. He had been charged with DUI manslaughter for the death of William E. Carlson, 30, of Pensacola.
Carlson was walking west on Wilde Lake Boulevard shortly after 3 a.m. on June 20 when he was struck and killed by a 2002 Saturn driven by Wass, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. According to the FHP., Wass saw Carlson at the last second and attempted to avoid him, but struck him with the right front of his Saturn. Wass and a passenger, 25-year old Carissa L. Snipes, 25, of Pensacola, were not injured.
Wass was taken into custody after the accident and charged with a misdemeanor count DUI. Prosecutors later upgraded the charge against Wass to manslaughter.
According to testimony during, Wass would have been unable to avoid hitting Carlson as he walked in the dark highway, despite blood alcohol test results of 0.112 and 0.115.
Wass’ vehicle was also impounded for 10 days, his license was revoked for 180 days, he was ordered to perform 50 hours of community service, undergo substance abuse treatment, and pay $956 in court costs and fines.
Comments
3 Responses to “Probation In Escambia DUI Death Case”
I know both of these guys. I know Tyler just in passing but I knew Billy VERY WELL! It breaks my heart that his life was cut so short and that he will never smile with us again. I’m not condoning what Tyler did that night. It is a fact that he was drunk driving. And I’m pretty sure that I’m one of the few that feels this way and I will probably get plenty of angry responses… BUT I know that Billy would NOT want Tyler to rot in prison as so many others do. Billy was not that kind of person. He was a gentle soul and a wonderful man. And he was not a hypocrite! This was an accident. Was it avoidable? Sure it was. That is why it is referred to as an accident! Tyler did not set out that night to kill someone. Billy did not set out that night to get drunk and walk home. All of the events that took place that night were purely CIRCUMSTANTIAL! ALL AVOIDABLE, and due to poor decision making by ALL PARTIES involved. Not a day goes by that I don’t miss my best friend. But making Tyler out to be some horrible murderer is not the answer. Billy would not want that.
I cannot agree with the DUI getting off so easy on such a awful outcome. Let’s remember though that the poor soul who lost his life shouldn’t be in the middle of the road at 3am.
NICE…..really NICE!!! This guy gets probation???????? and I just had a cousin who went to jail for IILEGAL HUNTING, NO BOND. What a heck of a system we have in ESCAMBIA COUNTY FLORIDA!!!!!!