Teen driver settles case

Charges have been dropped against one of two drivers involved in a January collision that killed a Sahuarita High School basketball player.

The charges were dismissed last week after the family of victim Danny Figueroa reached a settlement with the insurance company of the 17-year- old driver of the car in which Figueroa died, Town Prosecutor Christopher Wencker and a lawyer for the driver agreed.

Terms of the settlement were not disclosed.

Charges are pending against Dustin James Bean, 18, of Sahuarita, who is represented by attorney Stanton Bloom and has a pre-trial hearing date of Aug. 12.

Bean is charged with speeding; causing death by a moving violation and failure to stop at a red light and could face up to a month’s jail time, a year’s probation and fines of $500.

On Jan. 18, Figueroa was a front-seat passenger in a Mitsubishi Eclipse driven by the 17-year old Sahuarita male, who is not being identified by the Green Valley News and Sahuarita Sun because he is a juvenile. The car was going east on Duval Mine Road, then turned north toward the northbound Interstate 19 on-ramp when it collided with a Ford F-250 pickup truck that was traveling west and was driven by Bean. Sahuarita police could not determine who was at fault and filed charges against both drivers.

After the Figueroa family reached a settlement, Wencker asked the court to drop charges against the juvenile driver. The 17-year-old will be a senior at the high school in the fall and was a close friend of Figueroa, who was 16, a junior and and a popular member of the high school varsity basketball team.

Judge Maria Avilez dismissed the charges without prejudice, meaning they could be reinstated later. Wencker made that recommendation in case the settlement fell apart. David A. Vasquez, attorney for the 17-year-old on the criminal charges, said the settlement was a solid one, as the Figueroa family had reached an agreement with the driver’s insurer.

pfranchine@sahuaritasun.com | 547-9738