
(A TapouT employee tends to a small memorial set up for "Mask" on the sidewalk outside company headquarters in Grand Terrace yesterday. Photo courtesy of the OC Register)
Yesterday we learned that Jeffrey David Kirby — the drunk driver who struck Charles Lewis’s car late Tuesday night, leading to the accident that killed him — had been cited for at least eight traffic violations since 2001, including a previous DUI bust. (Damn, where’s Dexter when you need him?) Well, Kirby’s just been formally charged. death-16555″>As Sherdog reports:
Jeffrey D. Kirby, 51, of Costa Mesa, Calif., has been charged with “one felony count of vehicular manslaughter by unlawful act with gross negligence while intoxicated, one felony count of driving under the influence causing bodily injury, and sentencing enhancements for fleeing the scene of a vehicular manslaughter and causing great bodily injury to multiple victims,” according to a press release from the Orange County District Attorney’s Office. Kirby…faces a maximum sentence of 19 years and eight months if convicted. Kirby is being held on $2 million bail and will be arraigned on Friday afternoon at the Harbor Justice Center in Newport Beach, Calif.
Kirby was later apprehended with a female companion a few blocks from the crash by officers, who observed the couple walking away from Kirby’s vehicle. Kirby was described as “emitting an odor of alcohol, slurring his speech, and having bloodshot and watery eyes,” according to the release.
Lewis was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. His girlfriend, Lacy Lynn White was ejected from the vehicle in the crash and landed on a nearby dirt embankment. White, 23, was transported to Western Medical Center – Santa Ana where she was treated for a fractured elbow, lacerations, and abrasions. Investigating officials told Sherdog.com on Thursday that White is in critical, but stable condition and is expected to survive.
The prospect of Kirby pleading down to a lighter sentence, then having time shaved off for "good behavior" is not sitting well with us right now, to say the least. Let’s hope the criminal justice system can do its job on this one.
Cagepotato Comments
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comments1) pick Online Case Access
2) then choose Criminal and Traffic Cases
3) then Accept Terms
4) Then search by last name Kirby, first name Jeffrey. The relevant case is 09HF0445.
They could both come back full DUI but that wouldn't change the fact that someone still caused the death of another person.
Cause they were both racing that means its ok for one guy who (probly) caused the crash to get away with no jailtime at all wtf are some of these comments I read he should do time what if someone died because of your actions(indirect or direct).
This wasn't a accident it was 2 grown ass men doing what they wanted at 1am and now they should pay. I would say this of Mask to but hes already paid the ultimate price for his few minutes of fun.
Yes Mask isn't innocent but he doesn't have a history of DUI's or being a Rich douchebag.
They could both come back full DUI but that wouldn't change the fact that someone still caused the death of another person.
Cause they were both racing that means its ok for one guy who (probly) caused the crash to get away with no jailtime at all wtf are some of these comments I read he should do time what if someone died because of your actions(indirect or direct).
This wasn't a accident it was 2 grown ass men doing what they wanted at 1am and now they should pay. I would say this of Mask to but hes already paid the ultimate price for his few minutes of fun.
Yes Mask isn't innocent but he doesn't have a history of DUI's or being a Rich douchebag.
I admire Masks passion and support for the sport of MMA and will always remember the guy for just that. That's how he wanted to be remembered and that's how we should try to remember him.
I was thinking the EXACT same thing!!
I don't know how people with a previous DUI can get behind the wheel when they obviously didn't learn a damn thing! And yes it takes two to tango but I can't help but think that maybe it was a one time thing (for Mask). Think back to all the stupid shit you used to do when you were young and how that could of turned out completely different and changed the lives of everyone around you.
The point is that Mask's death was his own fault, he should not be given a free pass here. Nobody wants to say that Kirby is blameless.
Justice systems are a joke now, and they let people off easy.
its sad that mask died but they were both speeding, possible racing and both possibly intoxicated. its an unfortunate incident which could have been prevented.
My condolences go to his family, and friends.
mask and kirby are both driving fast side by side, and kirby crashes and his car splits in two... would we be screaming for masks head?
if kirby was actually drunk he should be charged with a dui. if we can PROVE he hit masks car, and mask didn't hit his car, we should throw a manslaughter charge at him.
They were both racing, and the police still hasn't released Autopsy report of Mask(what's left of him anyways.) to say he wasn't drunk, so please don't judge either or, if they were racing and both of them were drunk, its their reponsability not Kirby's, its both of them what happened to Mask, and his girlfriend is all both of those guys fault. It takes two to tango, racing is illegal for a reason, see the accident pictures they say it all...... good afternoon.
A man died and another one caused it drunk.