Driver in fatal wreck pleads no contest
 
By Jennifer Denevan
The Mountain Mail - Salida, Colorado
 
Wayne Fischer, 38 of Las Vegas, Nev., pleaded no contest to 15 traffic charges when he appeared in Chaffee County Court Wednesday in connection with the Jan. 10 death of a 10-year-old girl.

Chaffee County Judge William Alderton conducted the status conference and accepted the list of complaints filed by Deputy 11th Judicial District Attorney Rex Kindall. Fischer represented himself.

Fischer faced one count of careless driving resulting in death and two counts of careless driving resulting in injury.

Other charges were three counts of no child restraint for children younger than 4 years old and nine counts of no child restraint for 6- to 17-year-old children.

Alderton set sentencing for 3 p.m. May 7 in Chaffee County Court.

Kindall said Fischer may face a sentence of as many as 30 days in jail and a two-year probation.

How and where probation would occur was discussed, but won't be determined until the sentencing hearing.

Fischer was driving a 2007 pickup on U.S. 50 Monarch Pass with a total of 15 passengers in the cabin and camper shell-covered bed of the vehicle when he lost control and went off the road. The pickup rolled onto its side against a large boulder, crushing the shell.

Three adults including Fischer - and six children were riding in the cab. Six other children were riding in the pickup bed. No seat belts were in use.

Before the hearing, Charles Newcomb, a freelance videographer, filed to be allowed to film during proceedings.

Fischer told Alderton he had no prior notice of the filming request, adding he didn't want video coverage because, "I'm part of a religious group that's been hounded in the media."

He said he didn't want a video camera for fear it might generate prejudice.

Alderton allowed the video camera, but disallowed The Mountain Mail still camera.
 
TheMountainMail.com
Originally published March 13, 2008
 
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