Updated Sept. 6 at 7:23 a.m.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A Texas man involved in a fatal accident in Reno County in April of 2017 was bound over for trial a second time after a preliminary hearing Thursday.
Benjamin Buzzini was charged with alternate counts of involuntary manslaughter and a count of second-degree murder. However, Magistrate Judge Cheryl Allen last year found there was insufficient evidence that he was under the influence of alcohol or drugs for one of the manslaughter charges. The state didn’t agree with the judge’s decision to drop one of the charges and refiled the case. Reno County District Judge Joe McCarville found probable cause for the case to go to trial on all three counts.
The charges come after emergency personnel were dispatched to the 2100 block of south K-96 Highway around 1:45 a.m. on April 25, 2017, for a single-vehicle fatality accident. Buzzini was driving and his passenger, Stephanie Futral, was killed. Buzzini was badly injured.
He will be arraigned next month.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A Texas man involved in a fatal accident in Reno County during April of 2017, will face a preliminary hearing for a second time after the state dropped the initial charges, but refiled the case.
Benjamin Buzzini was charged with alternate counts of involuntary manslaughter and a count of second-degree murder. However, Magistrate Judge Cheryl Allen last year found there was insufficient evidence that he was under the influence of alcohol or drugs. She did find that excessive speed was certainly a factor. Data from the Event Data Recorder showed the vehicle going 151 mph just before the crash. The gas pedal was pushed all the way to the floor.
The state didn’t agree with the judge’s decision to drop one of the charges, so they refiled the case and a preliminary hearing will occur before Reno County District Judge Joe McCarville.
The charges come after emergency responders were dispatched to the 2100 block of South K-96 Highway around 1:45 a.m. on April 25, 2017, for a single-vehicle fatality accident.
Buzzini was allegedly driving northbound and left the road for an unknown reason. His 2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee rolled several times before coming to rest in the Kutter’s Furniture parking lot. He was ejected from the vehicle and was taken to Wesley Medical Center with serious injuries.
His female passenger, Stephanie Futral from Wichita, sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. Neither occupant was wearing a seat belt.