A former UNF student was found guilty as charged of driving under the influence-manslaughter, and two counts of driving under the influence with injury Tuesday, after the death of another student in a New Year’s crash three years ago.
Sean F. Franke, now 23, was driving Jan. 1, 2013 on Beach Boulevard near the intersection at Kernan Boulevard when he lost control of the vehicle and ran into a metal signage pole, according to the police report.
He, Dara Kusiv, Samantha Kasten and Jacob Materia had just left a New Year’s Party and were going to a friend’s place on Kernan. Dara Kusiv died in the accident, and the two other friends sustained serious bodily injuries, the report states.
Reports say none of the people in the car were wearing seatbelts, and Franke’s alcohol level was at .178 and .175.
Kusiv and Kasten were also UNF student students, and members of the Zeta Tau Alpha sorority. Franke and Materia were members of the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity.
Franke’s sentencing will be Monday, Oct. 31.
Spinnaker will continue to update this story as more information becomes available.
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