In a grim reminder of the consequences of drunk driving, Keith James Taylor, born in September 1997, has been sentenced to a substantial term in prison following a DUI crash which claimed the life of a pedestrian. According to details shared by the Maricopa County Attorney's Office, Taylor will serve an 11-year sentence, followed by five years of intensive probation after pleading guilty to counts of manslaughter and leaving the scene of a fatal accident.
The incident, which occurred on November 27, 2023, saw Taylor driving eastbound on Ocotillo Road when he struck a pedestrian in a marked crosswalk near McQueen Road, resulting in fatal injuries to the victim. After the initial collision, Taylor left the scene, and subsequently, crashed into another vehicle before abandoning his own. Taylor displayed signs consistent with intoxication when located by Chandler Police, and tests later revealed a blood alcohol concentration more than twice the legal limit, leading to his arrest and his subsequent charges.
Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell commented on the case, "You can run but you can’t hide from law enforcement," said Mitchell.“The clear disregard for human life was evident in this case and the sentence ordered by the court is justified for the crime committed,” as noted by Maricopa County Attorney's Office.
