Truck driver pleads guilty to deaths of five people
Staff reporter
Ironically on his 36th birthday, Richard Duncan, the truck driver involved in a crash June 29, 2004, which resulted in the deaths of five people, pled guilty Monday morning in Marion County District Court to five counts of vehicular homicide.
As part of the plea bargain, the state recommended that Duncan serve six months for each death, but only a total of 30 months, to run consecutively and concurrently. Duncan currently is serving a six-year sentence in Big Muddy Correctional Center in Illinois for criminal sexual assault.
Eighth Judicial District Chief Judge Michael Powers asked Duncan if he understood the charges of unintentionally causing the deaths of five people by driving his motor vehicle in an unsafe fashion. To that, Duncan answered, "yes."
With that, Duncan pled guilty to the five counts. Judge Powers said the court found him guilty. Duncan will serve his time in the Illinois prison.
Vehicular homicide is a class A misdemeanor with a maximum fine of $2,500 and one year in the county jail.
Sentencing was postponed per Marion County Attorney Susan Robson's request because families of the victims wanted an opportunity to be present in court when judgment occurred.
Sentencing will be at 9 a.m. Monday in the county court room.
Duncan was driving a semi on U.S.-50 and failed to stop in a construction zone. As a result, a Wichita couple and three members of a family from Wright died.
John R. Cafferty, 56, Shirley A. Cafferty, 51, Victoria A. Bogner, 43, Christopher G. Bogner, 21, and Charlie M. Bogner, 17, all died as a result of the crash.
Duncan also was hurt in the collision and was transported by Lifewatch to Wesley Medical Center.
