LAKEPORT — The Lake County District Attorney”s Office declined to file charges against the driver in a fatal rollover crash that killed Lucerne resident Kenneth Overstreet in early February.
“We can”t prove a case beyond a reasonable doubt,” John Langan, senior deputy district attorney, said Thursday.
Overstreet, 50, was the lone passenger in a pickup that rolled on Highway 20 in Lucerne the evening of Feb. 5.
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) reported that the driver — River Denning of Lucerne — suffered minor injuries.
Langan said there were no pieces of physical evidence to discount Denning”s statement about how fast the truck was going, no blood samples taken from the driver, no mechanical defects and no other witnesses to the crash.
“We can”t file any criminal charges against Mr. Denning based on the evidence that was presented to us,” Langan said. “We really don”t know what occurred.”
The decision by the DA”s Office left Overstreet”s family “very upset,” according to his mother, Nancy Hardister.
“I”m disgusted with Lake County,” Hardister, who lives in Lucerne, said Thursday. “I think it sends a horrible message to the kids.”
Denning, 24 years old at the time, drove with a learner”s permit, according to Langan.
The CHP recommended a misdemeanor manslaughter charge, Langan added.
