BOISE, Idaho — This article originally appeared in the Idaho Press.
A Meridian man has been sentenced to prison for driving impaired, hitting and killing a pedestrian in Boise.
Kellen Tutt, 41, was sentenced on Wednesday to serve up to nine years in prison by Ada County District Judge Peter Barton. Tutt pleaded guilty in January to felony vehicular manslaughter for hitting and killing 79-year-old Henry Reents, who was crossing the street in the crosswalk when he was fatally hit in January 2023.
“On January 23, 2023, Mr. Tutt drove under the influence of alcohol to the YMCA in downtown Boise with his child in the vehicle,” a news release from the Ada County Prosecutor’s Office said. “Upon dropping his child off at the YMCA, he drove through the intersection of State and 11th Streets where Mr. Reents, who had the right of way, was walking through the marked crosswalk.”
Reents died the next day at the hospital; Tutt’s blood alcohol content was measured at 0.134.
Tutt must serve two years of his sentence before he is eligible for parole, and his driver’s license will be suspended for seven years upon his release.
“Driving under the influence is a serious crime that endangers our community, and unfortunately in this case, took the life of an innocent man,” Ada County Prosecutor Jan Bennetts said. “On behalf of my office, we extend our condolences to Mr. Reents’ family and loved ones for their tremendous loss. Thank you to the Boise Police Department for their hard work on this case.”
This article originally appeared in the Idaho Press, read more on IdahoPress.com.
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