The wrong-way driver accused of causing the death of emergency dispatcher Megan Lane has pleaded not guilty.
Wrong-Way Car Accident
On January 27, 2015 Stephen B. Martin, 39, was spotted driving his white 1996 Chevrolet Tahoe southbound in the northbound lanes of Interstate 17 near Camelback Road. Lange was just heading home from work. A police officer spotted Martin’s Tahoe and tried to intervene. But before the officer could stop Martin, he plowed head-on into Lange’s car.
Lange sustained serious injuries and was transported to a local hospital. She later died.
Martin
According to police, they found Martin laying outside of his vehicle. He told the reporting officers that the wrong-way vehicle belonged to him. Results of a blood alcohol content test showed that Martin’s BAC was .313. That’s more than three times the legal limit. Drug paraphernalia and marijuana were also found by police.
Martin was taken to the hospital under protective custody. He was arrested shortly after.
Charges for Wrong-Way Driver
Martin has been charged with one count of second-degree murder and three counts of endangerment relating to the wrong-way accident. He also faces charges of one count of marijuana possession and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia. Four of the charges he’s facing are felonies. He pleaded not guilty to all six counts when he appeared in front of Commissioner Casey Newcomb.
His pretrial court date is set for March 31.
