Driver faces life in prison for running red light at Sacramento intersection, killing 1

A 63-year-old man is facing 40 years to life in prison after being convicted of vehicular manslaughter in a December 2020 crash that killed a man at a busy Sacramento intersection.

A jury convicted Charles Howell of one felony count earlier this month, according to a news release from the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office. Prosecutors said Howell — who was previously convicted of robbery and of “maliciously preventing or dissuading a witness” — was on probation at the time of the crash. It was unclear where Howell was living at the time, but he had previously been a resident of Chowchilla.

According to police, Howell ran a red light at 65th Street Expressway and Fruitridge Road on Dec. 17, 2020, broadsiding a Toyota Corolla in his Ford SUV. The driver of the Corolla, Santiago Diaz, was killed and a passenger was critically injured.

Prosecutors said at trial that Howell had driven between cars to run through the intersection at 60 mph as Diaz was lawfully crossing through the intersection. Police at the time of the crash said Howell showed signs of impairment, according to previous Bee reporting.

Howell will remain in custody at Rio Cosumnes Correctional Center until he is sentenced April 22.

This story was originally published February 26, 2022 at 11:20 AM.