SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — The now-18-year-old man charged with manslaughter and vehicular homicide in a Sioux Falls wreck which took the lives of two teenagers returned to court Monday.
Court papers say the then-17-year-old Damion Laurelez of Sioux Falls was behind the wheel during a high-speed, violent car wreck in April. The early morning crash in the center of the city took the lives of two 15-year-old passengers; it also sent five young people to area hospitals with various injuries, per court papers. Laurelez faces several charges, including two counts of first-degree manslaughter, two counts of vehicular homicide and DWI.
Laurelez appeared in Minnehaha County court Monday for what the judge described as a “pre-hearing.” The judge decided that the prosecution will have the opportunity to call the defendant’s probation officer as a witness. Such testimony could help the judge decide if the case proceeds in juvenile or adult court.
The prosecution shared they plan to present intense body camera footage in this case. The crash scene was so graphic that KELOLAND News has had to exercise great caution in choosing which video to show our viewers.
Tuesday morning brings a transfer hearing which will address if Laurelez faces charges in adult or juvenile court. But what’s been clear since April is how devastating the crash was and is.
“Been doing this job 17, 18 years, and I certainly can’t think of an accident that I’ve been to that’s more catastrophic than this,” Lt. Andrew Siebenborn with the Sioux Falls Police Department said in April. “This was a very, very, very serious scene, and quite frankly very tragic that we lost two lives in this, but also an absolute miracle that we don’t have seven deceased in this if you look at that vehicle.”
Per court papers, an eighth occupant of the car admitted he ran from the car following the crash.
