LAKEPORT, Calif. – On Monday the preliminary hearing began for a Clearlake man charged with vehicular manslaughter, driving under the influence and a number of other charges for an April 15 crash that took the life of his passenger.
The hearing began Monday afternoon for Danny Kirk Fields II, 27, before Judge Andrew Blum, according to Deputy District Attorney John Langan.
Langan said the proceedings didn’t conclude Monday and so will continue beginning at 2 p.m. Friday due to a waiver of the single-session preliminary hearing rule.
Fields is facing charges in connection with the crash that took the life of 31-year-old Clearlake resident Jennifer Clark. Fields himself suffered major injuries in the wreck.
He’s charged with vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated with a special allegation of fleeing the scene and hit and run, driving under the influence causing bodily injury with a special allegation of great bodily injury causing death, hit and run, two prior DUIs, driving on a suspended license, special allegations that the crash occurred while he was on bail for two separate cases and allegations of having two prior prison terms, Langan said.
Fields also has two other felony drug cases involving methamphetamine set to go to preliminary hearing, which have been continued until the current case is handled, Langan said.
Clark, a female acquaintance of Fields’, was a witness in both of those drug cases, Langan said.
If convicted of all charges, Fields could face up to 15 years in state prison, according to Langan’s calculations.
Early on the morning of Sunday, April 15, Fields – driving a 1984 Chevrolet El Camino – went off Highway 29, traveling down an embankment and hitting a walnut tree, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The CHP said Fields left the scene and was picked up by an unidentified driver, who took him to the Lower Lake Tower Mart. From there, his parents were contacted, and they reportedly took him to St. Helena Hospital Clearlake.
The original CHP report said hospital staff reported the crash to CHP just before 9 a.m. that day, and less than 20 minutes later sheriff’s deputies found the crash scene and Clark’s body.
Langan said Clark died of blunt force trauma she suffered during the crash.
Fields was arrested, released for medical treatment and then rearrested four days later on Thursday, April 19, the CHP said.
Langan said urine and blood tests taken about an hour after the crash showed a .05 blood alcohol level. Separate blood samples tested positive for methamphetamine, marijuana and opiates.
Fields is alleged to have admitted to drinking whiskey and beer, smoking marijuana and using meth, Langan said.
“That’s what’s in evidence,” Langan added.
As for why Clark was riding with Fields, “That’s going to become clear on Friday,” when testimony continues, Langan said.
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