Crime & Courts

Motorcyclist pleads guilty in fatal 2013 street racing crash

Wichita police officers look at one of the two motorcycles involved in a fatal crash with a truck on Pawnee near Cooper in southeast Wichita. (Dec. 16, 2013)
Wichita police officers look at one of the two motorcycles involved in a fatal crash with a truck on Pawnee near Cooper in southeast Wichita. (Dec. 16, 2013) File photo

A motorcycle driver involved in a deadly street racing crash in 2013 has pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide and aggravated battery.

Johanna “Joe” Saada, who was charged in the Dec. 16, 2013, collision, is scheduled for sentencing June 29 before Sedgwick County District Judge David Kaufman, said Dan Dillon, spokesman for the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office.

Wichita police, at the time of the crash, said witnesses saw Saada and 28-year-old Jeremy Emerson racing motorcycles after a traffic light at Pawnee and Webb turned from red to green. Emerson was killed after he struck the back of a flatbed truck driving in the same lane. Saada swerved to avoid hitting Emerson and ended up jumping a curb, injuring himself and his 13-year-old sister who was riding with him.

Saada pleaded guilty April 21, according to court records. He had been scheduled for a jury trial this week.

Amy Renee Leiker: 316-268-6644, @amyreneeleiker

This story was originally published April 26, 2016 at 11:50 AM with the headline "Motorcyclist pleads guilty in fatal 2013 street racing crash."

Get unlimited digital access
#ReadLocal

Try 1 month for $1

CLAIM OFFER