Crime & Safety
Hearing for Driver in Crash that Resulted in All-Star Basketball Player's Death
Leffew's defense presented expert reports 'indicating that, given all the circumstances, even a sober driver would have been unable to avoid the collision,' prosecutors said.
A restitution hearing was under way Tuesday morning in Redwood City for Dennis Leffew, who pleaded guilty in July 2012 to misdemeanor driving under the influence in a November 2011 crash that resulted in the death of 19-year-old Andrel Norcel Gaines, an all-star basketball player at Gavilan College.
Leffew initially faced multiple felony charges including vehicular manslaughter in Gaines' death. But prosecutors determined the felonies could not be proven and Leffew pleaded no contest to misdemeanor DUI in July 2012, District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said March 26.
Leffew was sentenced to the maximum jail sentence of 6 months and a fine of $1,611, according to court records.
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Early Nov. 6, 2011, Gaines and some friends were southbound in a Cadillac on the 101 Freeway north of Millbrae Avenue when the driver swerved to avoid a tire in the middle of the freeway, lost control and crashed into the center divider, according to court records and the California Highway Patrol.
Moments later Leffew's vehicle crashed into the Cadillac, and everyone in the Cadillac was injured. Gaines was on life support until he died on Nov. 18, 2011, according to court records.
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Leffew also suffered major injuries and a blood sample showed he had .12 blood alcohol level, prosecutors said.
In early December 2011, hundreds of mourners flooded the Gavilan College gymnasium to attend a memorial service for Gaines.
Months later, Leffew's defense presented expert reports "indicating that, given all the circumstances, even a sober driver would have been unable to avoid the collision," prosecutors said.
"Experts from the CHP accident reconstruction team examined the defense expert's reports and conclusions and agreed that the collision, given the particular circumstances, was essentially unavoidable," prosecutors said.
On Tuesday, Leffew was in custody on $250,000 bail, according to court records.
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