Man gets 6 years in triple-fatal NYE crash
Jun. 28—It was tragic enough that three Bakersfield friends, all 20 years old with a whole life ahead of them, died after a night of celebration on New Year's Eve in 2020.
What makes it worse is that it was the victims' friend who killed the them.
Prosecutors said Adam Teasdale, 23, drove drunk with his friends, lost control of his car and crashed into a northwest Bakersfield tree. That was all preventable, Kern County Superior Court Judge Charles Brehmer said.
Teasdale's criminal case came to an end Wednesday as he was sentenced to six years in prison after pleading no contest to three counts of gross vehicular manslaughter and driving under the influence of alcohol, causing bodily injury. Devin Atha, Timothy Wilson and Andrew Ortiz died at Brimhall Road between Jewetta Avenue and Old Farm Road.
Some defendants sent to prison generally serve about half their time there. Teasdale has been in jail for about 2 1/2 years, so he will spend about six more months in prison.
Wednesday's hearing was a solemn time in which the victims' families got up and remembered during their victim impact statement who they lost.
H.A. Sala, Teasdale's defense attorney, noted in the hearing that his client was distraught, remorseful and inconsolable. Teasdale has always asked how the families are doing since after the attorney advised him to not speak to them, Sala said.
"I can tell you that he loved Timothy, Devin and Andrew very much," Sala said.
Sala said he raised evidentiary issues with the prosecutor on the case — very significant and lengthy matters — and the deal was agreed upon.
Teasdale accepted responsibility and will honor his friends by educating others about the dangers of drunken driving, Sala said. His client cried often during the hearing and nodded along at some victim impact statements.
The families of the victims had varied reactions to the sentencing, but one common theme emerged: They will never be the same.
Alice Hutchings, mother of Devin Atha, said she's forgiven Teasdale, though the process to get there took a long time. Devin and Teasdale have known each other since they were at least in the Boy Scouts and went on many vacations together, Hutchings said.
"Devin loved you and I know you loved him," Hutchings said.
A slideshow of Devin's life played on a screen as his mother talked to the court. It showed a happy young adult and his life's milestones. There were videos of him enjoying time with his friends and singing in a band.
A whole family line was lost when Timothy Wilson died, one of his family members said. His death means there will be no children, grandchildren or extended family members.
Sasha McKeen, the mother of Andrew Ortiz, remembered her son's infectious laughter, compassionate nature and zest of life. He would have been a fantastic father, she said.
But McKeen wasn't happy with the plea deal. She said Teasdale wasn't her son's friend and didn't display remorse, adding that the pain of losing a child is something no parent should have to experience.
"I (find) myself drowning myself in grief and sorrow," McKeen said.
Instead of celebrating life's greatest moments with her son, McKeen said she goes to a grave. She spends the day in a cemetery cleaning a headstone and eating all her meals there.
Teasdale will live out his life as a child, father and grandfather, McKeen said. But he stole that from her son, she added.
You can reach Ishani Desai at 661-395-7417. You can also follow her at @_ishanidesai on Twitter.
