Two men, accused of killing an 81-year-old woman in a Rancho Mirage street racing crash, were found guilty on Thursday.
Scott Bahls, 31 of Palm Springs, was found guilty of vehicular manslaughter, street racing and hit-and-run. Wade Wheeler, 34, of Rancho Mirage, was found guilty of manslaughter, street racing and reckless driving, reports KMIR.
The jury was deadlocked on the second-degree murder charges against the men.
Jurors were deadlocked 10-2 on the murder charge @MyDesert
— Colin Atagi (@TDSColinAtagi) October 28, 2016
Bahls and Wheeler were on trial for a 2013 crash that killed Barbara Schmitz and injured her husband, Gerald.
The men were accused of driving at speeds over 70 miles-per-hour on Highway 111 just before Wheeler’s BMW crashed into the side of the Schmitz’s Ford Focus as it made a left from Dunes View Road. The collision launched the Focus into the air and it rolled several times before coming to a rest at a gas station near the intersection.
Re street racing verdict, victim's son says "At the end of the day, no one won." @MyDesert
— Colin Atagi (@TDSColinAtagi) October 28, 2016
Barbara Schmitz died at the hospital two hours after the crash. Geral Schmitz suffered numerous injuries, including a brain hemorrhage, broken ribs and vertebra, ankle, tibia, fibula and pelvis fractures. Wheeler suffered a broken right leg in the crash.
Witnesses reported seeing both drivers swerving through traffic as they traveled east from Date Palm Drive and were “communicating to each other through their windows. Both vehicles were seen either side by side or within a car length apart,” according to court documents.
Update – 2:31 pm:
Defense attorneys already entering not guilty pleas for their clients. @MyDesert
— Colin Atagi (@TDSColinAtagi) October 28, 2016
