Driver in fatal street racing crash on Woodlawn charged with involuntary manslaughter
A 19-year-old man arrested last week in Wichita’s latest street racing death has been charged with involuntary manslaughter and other crimes.
Darbin Matthew Tate of Wichita made his first appearance in Sedgwick County District Court on Tuesday afternoon on the manslaughter count, as well as counts of aggravated battery, driving on a suspended license, drag racing or exhibition of speed and leaving the scene of an accident, said Georgia Cole, spokeswoman for the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office. The charges stem from a crash last week that claimed the life of 23-year-old Jordan Farber after he and Tate stopped at a traffic light on 21st Street then raced northbound on Woodlawn, police said.
Police at the time said the four-door Chevy SS that Tate was driving and Farber’s two-door Hyundai bumped or touched, sending the Hyundai rolling off the road into signs and trees. The car caught fire sometime after Farber’s 18-year-old girlfriend, who was riding with him that night, either climbed or was thrown out and walked to a nearby apartment for help.
Farber was discovered dead in the wreckage after firefighters doused the flames. The crash happened shortly before 3 a.m. on Nov. 14.
Records indicate authorities arrested Tate early Friday afternoon in connection with Farber’s death and on traffic-related offenses.
He was being held in Sedgwick County Jail early Wednesday morning in lieu of $50,000 bond in the street racing case and on $25,000 bond for a probation violation. He originally was booked on suspicion of second-degree, reckless murder at the time of his arrest.
Tate is due back in court Dec. 2 for a preliminary hearing, though the proceeding may be postponed.
Police last week said the car Tate was driving belonged to a man who had loaned it to his daughter. She, in turn, allowed Tate to drive it.
Reach Amy Renee Leiker at 316-268-6644 or aleiker@wichitaeagle.com. Follow her on Twitter: @amyreneeleiker.
This story was originally published November 19, 2014 at 6:04 AM with the headline "Driver in fatal street racing crash on Woodlawn charged with involuntary manslaughter."