UPDATE | Driver sentenced in deadly DUI crash
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A man from Dunbar will spend up to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to causing a death while driving drunk.
William Eren was sentenced Wednesday in the death of Jason Young.
Investigators say Eren was driving on 7th Avenue in North Charleston last October when he hit a motorcycle operated by Jason Young. It happened at the 26th Street intersection.
Witnesses told police they saw Eren walk away from the scene. Police found him a short distance from the accident.
Young died several days later. Eren will be eligible for parole in three years.
The family of a man who police say died at the hands of a drunk driver spent their afternoon in court on Monday, all as the man accused in the accident asked for a bond reduction.
Wililam Eren's request was denied.
Probable cause also was found to send the case on to Kanawha County Circuit Court.
Eren, 64, is accused of causing a crash Oct. 6 in Charleston that killed Jason Young, 47, of Cross Lanes, who was riding a motorcycle.
Police say Eren was driving the truck that hit Young, but walked away from the scene of the crash. Officers say he was having a hard time standing shortly after the crash happened.
An alleged drunk driver is facing a new charge after a crash that killed the other driver. WSAZ has also learned this is not the suspect's first offense.
William Eren, 64, of Dunbar, will be refiled as DUI causing death according to Charleston Police. He was originally charged with DUI causing serious bodily injury.
The victim, Jason Young, 47, of Cross Lanes, died at CAMC General Tuesday.
Police say the crash happened around 7:30 p.m. Saturday. At the intersection of 26th St. and 7th Ave., a Ford Ranger and motorcycle crashed.
Eren drove the truck. Investigators say he was turning left from 7th Ave. onto 26th St. and did not yield to Young who had the right-of-way. The pair crashed and Young was taken to the hospital with internal injuries.
Witnesses saw Eren walking away from the scene. Police found him nearby and say he was drunk.
WSAZ has also obtained court records that show this is not Eren's first alleged offense:
In 1992, Eren spent a few years in prison for aggravated robbery. It's unclear if he served his full sentence and how long he was behind bars.
In 1999, Eren pleaded guilty and went to prison for DUI and fleeing.
Eren spent eight years, from 2010 to 2018, in prison for second degree robbery. In fact, he was just released in September.
Court records also show a few DUI charges that were ultimately dismissed.
The motorcyclist who was hit by an alleged drunk driver has died.
Jason Young died from his injuries according to Charleston Police. He was taken to CAMC General after a crash Saturday.
That means charges could change for William Eren, 64, of Dunbar, who is currently charged with DUI with serious bodily injury.
Police responded to a crash Saturday in the 2600 block of 7th Ave. in Charleston. The accident involved a Ford Ranger and a motorcycle.
Witnesses told 911 dispatchers the truck driver, Eren, walked away from the scene. Police found Eren walking near the crash scene. Officers say the suspect appeared "very unsteady on his feet and was having a hard time walking."
Investigators smelled a strong odor of alcohol coming from Eren and say he appeared impaired. The breath sample test at the scene showed Eren's blood alcohol concentration (BAC) was 0.122 percent -- exceeding the legal limit of 0.08 percent.
A man is in the hospital with serious injuries after a crash over the weekend. Charleston Police believe another driver involved in the accident was drunk.
Police responded to a crash Saturday in the 2600 block of 7th Ave. in Charleston. The accident involved a Ford Ranger and a motorcycle.
Witnesses told 911 dispatchers the truck driver walked away from the scene.
William Eren, 64, of Dunbar, is charged with DUI with serious bodily injury, a felony. Police found Eren walking near the crash scene.
Officers say the suspect appeared "very unsteady on his feet and was having a hard time walking." Investigators smelled a strong odor of alcohol coming from Eren and say he appeared impaired.
The breath sample test at the scene showed Eren's blood alcohol concentration (BAC) was 0.122 percent -- exceeding the legal limit of 0.08 percent.
"Eren was very uncooperative and refused to answer any questions," police wrote in the criminal complaint. "Eren also refused to provide a blood sample and secondary breath sample."
Several witnesses identified Eren as the truck driver.
The victim, Jason Young, has serious injuries according to investigators. He was taken to CAMC General. His condition is unknown right now.