CANON CITYM, CO : Canon City man admits driving car that crashed on May, Wednesday, 24th 2017

A 21-year-old local man who admitted to being the driver in an accident in Rockvale that killed his friend was sentenced to a short prison term Wednesday.

Jerome Grant Blasingime of Canon City admitted to driving a car that crashed April 25, 2016, causing the death of his friend, Rodley Cornell, 22, of Florence; injuries to passengers Ashley Drake, 20, of Penrose, and Summer Middleton, 19, of Pueblo West; as well as a pedestrian, James McKissack, 59, of Rockvale.

A trial last week ended with a hung jury because of conflicting witness testimony as to who was actually the driver of the car.

Blasingime was sentenced to one year in jail on each of the two counts of careless driving and one year jail for driving under the Influence, But because District Court Judge Lynette Wenner had the sentences running at the same time and Blasingime has spent the past year and 28 days in jail, he will not serve any additional time in connection with the crash. He was also ordered tospend two years on probation.

Wenner also sentenced Blasingime to an 18-month prison sentence in connection with an aggravated motor vehicle theft case he was on probation for at the time of the accident.

Because Blasingime got 419 days credit for time served in that case, he effectively has just four months incarceration left to serve and a year of parole.

Middleton told the judge Wednesday that the past year has been "the loneliest, tragic journey."

"When Rodley (Cornell) died, it was the biggest shock of my life and my injuries impact me every day. I am not able to do many things other 19-year-olds can do," Middleton said, pointing out that she had to relearn basic movements like walking and showering.

Cornell's mother, Rose Ziemer, wrote in a letter that her pain is "unimaginable and this is truly every mother's nightmare. He (Blasingime) has taken no accountability for what has happened."

Blasingime did admit to being the driver of the car as part of his plea bargain, but gave no other statement.

Public Defender Jonah Wexler told the judge the accident was a tragedy and he has "every expectation that he (Blasingime) is a changed person and the court will not see him again."

"I am hopeful you have seen and realize the damage you have caused and can move on in a positive way from this point forward," Wenner told Blasingime.

Source :
Canon City man admits driving car that crashed, killing his friend