Accused hit-and-run driver: Wasn't my fault
TACOMA, Wash. - A man accused in the hit-and-run death of a 15-year-old Fife girl pleaded not guilty Friday as dozens of the girl's friends watched on somberly in the courtroom.
Robert V. Mitzel, 47, was charged with vehicular homicide and leaving the scene of a fatal accident. He pleaded not guilty to both charges in Friday's hearing.
Dozens of friends and relatives of the victim, Kelsey Parrett, 15, of Fife, were in the courtroom as Mitzel appeared before the judge. They silently watched the proceeding, wearing T-shirts with Kelsey's photo.
"She had so many friends who loved her and she loved them, and to see the outpouring of love makes it a little easier," said Kelsey's father, Sean Parrett.
He also said he believes Mitzel should be charged with murder, but Mitzel told detectives the accident wasn't his fault.
Mitzel previously had been free on $50,000 bail, but the judge increased the bail to $80,000 at Friday's hearing, and he was sent back to jail.
A trial was set for June 21.
According to reports, Kelsey and a friend were walking north Wednesday night on the grass shoulder off 15th Avenue in Milton, on their way to the friend's house from a church youth meeting..
Suddenly, Kelsey was hit from behind by a van.
Witnesses told investigators that a white 1995 GMC Stepvan came up behind the two girls and swerved off the roadway, hitting Kelsey, who was walking on the grass. The other girl, who was walking beside her in a shallow ditch, was not hit.
The van then swerved left over the centerline and kept going up the street, then came to a stop, witnesses told the Washington State Patrol.
Mitzel and his passenger, Gary W. Baines, 48, then got out of the van and went back to the two girls and asked Kelsey's friend if she was going to call 911.
Mitzel and Baines then got back in the van and drove to Mitzel's residence on Hemlock Court, about a half-mile away, the State Patrol said.
According to court documents, the van was backed into the driveway of Mitzel's residence with the damaged passenger side against a retaining wall.
Meanwhile, medics rushed Kelsey to Madigan Army Medical Center, where she died several hours later.
Mitzel and Baines eventually walked back to the accident scene after police had arrived and Mitzel told officers at the scene that he may have hit a pedestrian.
Officers on the scene noted that Mitzel had a strong odor of intoxicants on his breath, along with bloodshot, watery eyes and slightly slurred speech, according to court papers.
After his arrest, Mitzel told detectives that kids along 15th Avenue are always jumping out in front of his van, and he had often stopped to warn them of the dangers of doing that, court papers said.
He also said the collision was Kelsey's fault for being in the road, according to court documents, but he had no comment when told the evidence showed that Kelsey actually had been walking off the road in the grass.
After Friday's hearing, Kelsey's father said he thinks Mitzel should be charged with murder.
"Now my daughter's dead, and the evidence shows he swerved and hit her," said Kelsey's father.
Kelsey's friends and classmates from Columbia Junior High in Fife said they can't believe Mitzel was released from jail after the deadly crash.
"He just can't be free," said Heather Pollock. "He needs to pay for what he has done, and acknowledge what he's taken."
Another friend, Amy Seacrest, said, "The minute he put that car in drive he took someone else's life away. He shouldnt have his back."
Said Heather: "She's an angel now, and we have lost such a wonderful girl, and she was at the start of her life."
A fund the victims' family has been set up at Timberland Bank under the account number 20239103.
Robert V. Mitzel, 47, was charged with vehicular homicide and leaving the scene of a fatal accident. He pleaded not guilty to both charges in Friday's hearing.
Dozens of friends and relatives of the victim, Kelsey Parrett, 15, of Fife, were in the courtroom as Mitzel appeared before the judge. They silently watched the proceeding, wearing T-shirts with Kelsey's photo.
"She had so many friends who loved her and she loved them, and to see the outpouring of love makes it a little easier," said Kelsey's father, Sean Parrett.
He also said he believes Mitzel should be charged with murder, but Mitzel told detectives the accident wasn't his fault.
Mitzel previously had been free on $50,000 bail, but the judge increased the bail to $80,000 at Friday's hearing, and he was sent back to jail.
A trial was set for June 21.
According to reports, Kelsey and a friend were walking north Wednesday night on the grass shoulder off 15th Avenue in Milton, on their way to the friend's house from a church youth meeting..
Suddenly, Kelsey was hit from behind by a van.
Witnesses told investigators that a white 1995 GMC Stepvan came up behind the two girls and swerved off the roadway, hitting Kelsey, who was walking on the grass. The other girl, who was walking beside her in a shallow ditch, was not hit.
The van then swerved left over the centerline and kept going up the street, then came to a stop, witnesses told the Washington State Patrol.
Mitzel and his passenger, Gary W. Baines, 48, then got out of the van and went back to the two girls and asked Kelsey's friend if she was going to call 911.
Mitzel and Baines then got back in the van and drove to Mitzel's residence on Hemlock Court, about a half-mile away, the State Patrol said.
According to court documents, the van was backed into the driveway of Mitzel's residence with the damaged passenger side against a retaining wall.
Meanwhile, medics rushed Kelsey to Madigan Army Medical Center, where she died several hours later.
Mitzel and Baines eventually walked back to the accident scene after police had arrived and Mitzel told officers at the scene that he may have hit a pedestrian.
Officers on the scene noted that Mitzel had a strong odor of intoxicants on his breath, along with bloodshot, watery eyes and slightly slurred speech, according to court papers.
After his arrest, Mitzel told detectives that kids along 15th Avenue are always jumping out in front of his van, and he had often stopped to warn them of the dangers of doing that, court papers said.
He also said the collision was Kelsey's fault for being in the road, according to court documents, but he had no comment when told the evidence showed that Kelsey actually had been walking off the road in the grass.
After Friday's hearing, Kelsey's father said he thinks Mitzel should be charged with murder.
"Now my daughter's dead, and the evidence shows he swerved and hit her," said Kelsey's father.
Kelsey's friends and classmates from Columbia Junior High in Fife said they can't believe Mitzel was released from jail after the deadly crash.
"He just can't be free," said Heather Pollock. "He needs to pay for what he has done, and acknowledge what he's taken."
Another friend, Amy Seacrest, said, "The minute he put that car in drive he took someone else's life away. He shouldnt have his back."
Said Heather: "She's an angel now, and we have lost such a wonderful girl, and she was at the start of her life."
A fund the victims' family has been set up at Timberland Bank under the account number 20239103.