Second teen driver pleads not guilty in fatal crash

Philip Franchine, Green Valley News

One of the drivers in a January crash that killed a Sahuarita High School student made his first court appearance Tuesday, pleaded not guilty and was released on his own recognizance over the objection of the victim’s mother.

Dustin James Bean, 18, of Sahuarita, was represented by attorney Stanton Bloom and was given a pre-trial hearing date of Aug. 12.

The court was filled with tears as the mother of popular high school basketball player Danny Figueroa asked Judge Pro Tem Kate Dawes to hold Bean in jail until the next court date or require that Bean post a release bond, Town Prosecutor Chris Wencker said. Dawes declined to set a bond, meaning Bean remained free.

Figueroa was a front-seat passenger in a Mitsubishi Eclipse driven by a 17-year old Sahuarita youth that collided with a Ford F-250 pickup truck driven by Bean at Duval Mine Road and the northbound Interstate 19 on-ramp Jan. 18.

The Eclipse was turning north in front of the truck when the two vehicles collided, officials said.

After a lengthy investigation, Sahuarita police could not determine who was at fault and charged both drivers with with causing death by a moving violation, a Class III misdemeanor, and failure to stop at a red light, a civil traffic offense. Bean also was charged with speeding. The other driver, who is not being identified because he is a juvenile, was charged with failure to yield when making a left turn at an intersection.

When the 17-year-old driver appeared for his first court date in April, members of the Figueroa family hugged members of his family outside the courtroom. The 17-year old also pleaded not guilty and is set for a May 13 pre-trial hearing.

Each driver could face up to a month’s jail time, a year’s probation and fines of $500.

pfranchine@sahuaritasun.com | 547-9738