McCloud teen sentenced to 6 years in state prison over drunk driving death

Jessica Skropanic and Damon Arthur, Redding Record Searchlight
·2 min read
1

A McCloud teenager has been sentenced to six years in state prison after pleading guilty to gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated.

Jaden Hunter Quiring, 19, was sentenced in Siskiyou County Superior Court on May 17, according to the Siskiyou County District Attorney's Office.Quiring could have faced up to 10 years in prison.

On the night of June 29, Quiring ― then 18 years old ― and other underage friends were drinking heavily at a friend's house in McCloud, the district attorney's office said.

Quiring gave a friend a ride home, then returned to the McCloud residence where he and others were drinking earlier. “Some of these friends were juveniles,” and therefore not of legal drinking age, according to the district attorney's office.

At about 2 a.m. on June 30, Quiring left the home with two other people and again took the driver’s seat. He dropped off one person and continued down Highway 89 to take Stephen Ramos Jr., 20, back home, the district attorney's office reported.

Quiring was driving "well above the speed limit," when he crossed over a double yellow line to pass another vehicle. When he swerved back into the lane, Quiring lost control of the car and crashed into a tree. The car caught fire, the district attorney said.

Two motorists stopped to help. They cut Quiring's seatbelt and pulled him out of the car, the district attorney reported.

Ramos died from the impact of the crash, according to the district attorney's report.

Quiring plead guilty in Siskiyou County Superior Court on March 8 to gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and to driving under the influence of alcohol, causing injury. Both are felonies.

More: McCloud teen faces up to 10 years in prison over drunk driving death

At Quiring’s hearing, Ramos’ family described their grief and the long-term impact his loss had on them. After that, Quiring expressed his regret and wish he’d died instead of his “best friend,” according to the district attorney’s report.

This case is “heartbreaking for Steven’s family and for everybody present,” District Attorney Kirk Andrus said in a statement.

Jessica Skropanic is a features reporter for the Record Searchlight/USA Today Network. She covers science, arts, social issues and news stories. Follow her on Twitter @RS_JSkropanic and on Facebook. Join Jessica in the Get Out! Nor Cal recreation Facebook group. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today. Thank you.

This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: McCloud teen sentenced to 6 years in prison over drunk driving death