Grand jury indicts Groves man for intoxication manslaughter
Published 10:13 am Thursday, May 3, 2018
Staff report
A Jefferson County grand jury has indicted a Groves man for intoxication manslaughter in connection with a motorcyclist’s death on Nov. 15.
The indictment and affidavit say that Richard Eric Bean, 47, of 6850 Manchester Lane, Groves is accused of causing the late-night death of Mario Colunga during a two-vehicle crash on State Highway 347.
State Troopers said they were called to the scene near 347 and Seventh Avenue around 11:27 p.m. and found Bean’s truck and Colunga’s motorcycle. The affidavit said Colunga was dead at the scene “due to injuries sustained during the crash.”
The Troopers said that Bean failed to yield the right of way to the motorcycle while exiting Tammy’s Bar and Colunga’s motorcycle struck Bean’s truck from the rear.
Troopers said Bean admitted drinking three Long Island Ice Teas that night and displayed signs of intoxication.
Troopers administered field sobriety tests at the scene and Bean was taken to Jefferson County jail.