EMPORIA – (June 15, 2016) – An Emporia man was convicted today of vehicular homicide in connection with a 2012 crash that left one person dead and another injured, Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt said.
Following a jury trial in Lyon County, Tyler Blake Pettigrew, 27, of Emporia, was convicted of vehicular homicide, use of a wireless communications device while driving, speeding and following too close. Pettigrew was found not guilty of aggravated battery and driving left of center and also was not convicted of an alternative charge of involuntary manslaughter. The charges stem from a crash that occurred in October 2012. Judge Steve Hornbaker presided over the trial. Sentencing has been set for August 1 at 1:30 p.m. in Lyon County District Court.
The case was investigated by the Kansas Highway Patrol. Assistant Attorney General Greg Benefiel of Schmidt’s office prosecuted the case.