A nineteen year old man from Ethan is going to prison in the death of a teenager from Alexandria last summer in a crash in Davison County. Tate Thompson was driving a 2011 GMC pickup early on the morning of June 25th, when he failed to negotiate a curve east of the intersection of 258th Street and 409th Avenue and went into the south ditch.
Dylan Mentele of Alexandria was ejected from the vehicle and died at the scene. Thompson and three others were injured. He was legally drunk.
In an agreement with prosecutors Thompson pleaded guilty to second degree manslaughter and hit and run causing injury or death.
During Tuesday’s sentencing hearing Dylan’s father, Kelly Mentele told the court his son’s death, in his words, “tore a hole in my family that will never be filled.” He asked the court to issue the maximum sentence.
Tate’s father, Scott Thompson, told the court his son wouldn’t intentionally hurt anyone and asked Tate not go to prison.
Tate read a prepared statement apologizing to the Mentele family.
Judge Tim Bjorkman sentenced Thompson to 10 years in prison with three suspended on the manslaughter charge and two years on the hit and run charge to run consecutively.
J.P. Skelly
