Williamsburg man pleads guilty to manslaughter for driving into college runners, killing 1
The man accused of driving into a group of college runners last year, killing one, pleaded guilty in connection with the case.
In a hearing in York County Poquoson Circuit Court on Jan. 12, Jose Efrain Hernandez Mancia, 27, of Williamsburg, pleaded guilty to reckless involuntary DUI manslaughter, DUI maiming and DUI causing serious injury. All three charges are felonies.
Mancia also faced charges of driving while intoxicated, leaving the scene of an accident where someone was injured, reckless driving and refusing to take a blood/breath test, but those charges were not prosecuted.
Mancia faces up to 35 years in prison when he is sentenced in April, according to York County Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Jeremy Markle.
Police said Mancia was driving a two-door sedan in April when it struck five members of Milligan University’s cross country/track and field team as they were running on Williamsburg Pottery Road near the intersection with Lightfoot Road.
All five were taken to Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center, where Eli Cramer, 20, died . Fellow runners Alex Mortimer and Eli Baldy also sustained injuries. The Tennessee college’s team was in Williamsburg for The Colonial Relays track meet.
Mancia fled the scene, then crashed the vehicle into the median on Route 199. State police found him to be intoxicated.
Sian Wilkerson, 757-342-6616, sian.wilkerson@pilotonline.com
