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A Sedgwick County jury this week is hearing evidence in the trial of a Wichita man charged in a Feb. 12, 2011, crash that killed a 5-year-old Clearwater girl.
Matthew Noel, 27, is charged with involuntary manslaughter in the death of Amber Randolph and aggravated battery for injuries sustained by Amber’s mother.
Prosecutors said Noel’s truck crashed head-on into the Randolphs’ car after it sailed over a concrete median near Kellogg and Seneca. Prosecutors say Noel was racing with a friend, Ron Bevan, when the accident occurred. Bevan was found guilty in January of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to 15 1/2 years in prison.
A mistrial was declared at Noel’s first trial in December after a jury split 6-6 over whether the state had proved beyond a reasonable doubt that his actions were reckless.
A blood test administered more than two hours after the crash showed Bevan’s blood-alcohol level to be 0.15 — nearly twice the legal limit of 0.08. Testimony showed that Noel’s blood alcohol level was .03. Noel contended he was cut off by Bevan, who caused the accident.
