Fairbanks Man Could Get 3 1/2 Years for Cyclist's Death

A Fairbanks man pleaded guilty Thursday to causing the death of teenage bicyclist and injuring her friend when he ran a red light last year.

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By Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

Story Created: Apr 29, 2011 at 9:19 AM AKDT

Story Updated: Apr 29, 2011 at 9:19 AM AKDT

 FAIRBANKS — A Fairbanks man pleaded guilty Thursday to causing the death of teenage bicyclist and injuring her friend when he ran a red light last year.

Under the terms of a plea deal, Fred Karella, 56, can be sentenced to a jail term of no more than 3 1/2 years for criminally negligent homicide and felony assault. 

Superior Court Judge Doug Blankenship will decide whether to accept the plea deal at an Aug. 18 sentencing hearing.

Before the sentencing, Assistant District Attorney Scott Mattern reviewed the details of the accident that led to the death of 14-year-old Kirsten Shaye Tompkins on July 28, 2010, at a site now marked by a white memorial bike on the corner of the Johansen Expressway and the Steese Highway.

Karella had a light warning of the approaching red light two-tenths of a mile before the intersection, but must have not seen it or ignored it, Mattern said. 

The Ford F-150 truck he was driving hit Tompkins at the intersection; she died at the scene. A friend of Tompkins was hit by the truck’s rear view mirror and was hospitalized but later released.

At one point in the proceeding, Judge Blankenship asked Mattern if Karella was speeding. 

Mattern said Karella was going fast enough to throw Tompkins 259 feet from the intersection, but said he was guilty regardless of his speed.

“Arguably, the speed for a person facing a red light is zero."he said. 

Before the accident, Karella had no criminal history, but had multiple traffic citations for speeding and failure to wear a seatbelt.

Karella is not currently in custody. He pleaded guilty in-person at the hearing. He is being represented by attorney Steve Elliott.

Contact staff writer Sam Friedman at 459-7545.


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seethelight said on Friday, Aug 19 at 8:06 PM

I have lived in Fairbanks for over 20 years closer to 25 and I did not know how BADLEY people in Fairbanks drove until I left for extended trips to the lower 48. RUDE, FAST>>>FAST>>>FAST, AGGRESSIVE, SPEEDING crazy drivers. I feel sorry for people who have to drive here and they come from other places. I can't stand to be here any longer than I have to any more. I come here, take care of what I have to get out as fast as possible. Now that I know what unfriendly, rude poeple are here. I used to not know the difference because I was here for so long I thought the way people were here was normal and the way to be. WRONG!!!! This guy should be sentenced to LIFE for killing a precious child over being an As...le driver.

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olddg said on Saturday, Apr 30 at 11:28 AM

This driver struck 2 children as he sped through a red lite sending one little girl 259 ft down the road and killing her. ya we should feel sorry for him. A child,s life is worth 31/2 years. A dfelony dwi conviction is 4 yrs. Glad to see that a childs life is worth less than a dwi conviction

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npgirlie said on Friday, Apr 29 at 11:56 AM

Yes but if you read the article you would know he isnt being charged with vehicular manslaughter! Im not defending him at at all, but a part of me has to feel for him a little bit too. Im sure the guilt he has to live with is horrible. Its not like hes a cold killer, it was a bad decision with horrible outcome

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Aksnowby said on Friday, Apr 29 at 11:31 AM

I thought vehicular manslaughter carried a minimum 5 years, not to mention he been around 56 years and killed her at age 14 that sounnds like a minimum 42 years to me!

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