An 18-year-old Black Diamond man pleaded not guilty on Thursday to a reckless driving charge in connection with a “car surfing” accident in March at the Kent-Meridian High School parking lot that resulted in the death of a fellow student.
Tyler T. Reber, who is not in custody, entered the plea in King County Superior Court at the Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent. He was booked and released within the hour after his plea. County prosecutors didn’t oppose his release on personal recognizance on the condition that he not drive a vehicle without a valid license and insurance and have no more moving violations.
Reber, a recent K-M graduate, is scheduled to return to court on Sept. 1 when a trial date could be set or attorneys could ask for more time to prepare the case. If convicted as charged, Reber could face up to one year in jail.
Lupo Benson, 18, died from injures he suffered after falling off the hood of Reber’s vehicle on March 31.
Reber was driving a SUV through the school parking lot as Benson gripped the back edge of the hood near the windshield, with his chest on the hood and his feet toward the front of the vehicle, according to charging papers.
Reber backed the SUV out of a parking spot and then appeared to rapidly accelerate through the parking lot at about 15-20 mph and then made a sharp left turn. As Reber made the turn, Benson slid off the hood, his feet appeared to land first, but the momentum of his upper body continued toward the ground and the back of Benson’s head hit the pavement hard. Benson, a senior, died the next day Harborview Medical Center in Seattle from the head injury.
Kent Police initially investigated Reber for vehicular homicide after interviewing witnesses and reviewing security camera footage of the incident.
But prosecutors said after consultation with the victim’s family and the circumstances of the crime they decided to go for a reckless driving charge, a gross misdemeanor, as opposed to a felony charge.
In the charging papers against Reber, prosecutors said that he drove a motor vehicle with willful and wanton disregard for the safety of persons and property. Reber has no criminal history or driving violations.
Prosecutors said this is the first “car surfing” case filed in the county.
