Wednesday, December 12, 2012

A Topeka man could be sentenced to nearly 14 years in prison after being convicted in a car accident that killed a 15-year-old passenger.

A Shawnee County jury on Tuesday convicted 19-year-old Hunter Hillmer of reckless second-degree murder for the March 19 death of Madison Naill. He was also convicted of aggravated battery for injuries suffered by a second passenger and driving under the influence of alcohol.

The wreck left Hillmer a paraplegic.

Witnesses testified that Hillmer's speeding Cadillac went airborne for about 50 feet, shattered a utility pole and struck a tree with its roof.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports investigators said Hillmer had a blood-alcohol level of 0.18 percent and tested positive for marijuana use.

An autopsy found Naill didn't have any alcohol or marijuana in her system.