Sacramento man dies weeks after DUI crash; other driver now faces manslaughter
A man critically injured in a DUI crash last month downtown has died, and the other driver is now facing a vehicular manslaughter charge, Sacramento police said.
The collision occurred just before midnight Aug. 21 at Ninth and T streets near Southside Park. Officers arrived to find two motorists — both adult men — with one suffering life-threatening injuries. He was transported to a hospital in critical condition. The second driver was hospitalized with minor injuries, according to police.
Detectives from the Major Collision Investigations Unit responded to the scene and determined that Richard Lee Newman Jr., 33, of Sacramento had been driving under the influence. He was arrested on Aug. 23 and booked into the Sacramento County Main Jail. He was charged with DUI causing great bodily injury in Sacramento Superior Court on Aug. 26.
On Monday, police said they were notified Thursday that the critically injured driver — identified by the Sacramento County Coroner’s Office as Nathan Christopher Scott Thomas, 50 — had died from his injuries.
Family members said Thomas — the father of a 12-year-old son — had been returning home from work when he was struck. He was placed on life support at UC Davis Medical Center, where he underwent a craniotomy for severe brain injuries. Loved ones launched a GoFundMe campaign while he was in a coma, writing that he was unresponsive following the crash.
“His brain injuries were far beyond repair and as the days turned into weeks, his condition continued to deteriorate despite all of our hopes and prayers,” an update from the family read. “UC Davis gave Nate and our family an amazing honor walk to celebrate his wish to be an organ donor. He is finally with God and at peace.”
A celebration of life for Thomas is planned for Nov. 2 in Roseville, according to the family.
Newman remains in custody and will face additional charges related to vehicular manslaughter, police said. He is expected to return to court on Oct. 22.