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A 27-year-old man accused of causing a crash in La Vista that killed a doctor and injured two small boys was formally charged Thursday in Sarpy County.
Jason Laware faces three counts: a single charge of felony motor vehicle homicide and two felony counts of driving under the influence of alcohol, causing serious bodily injury.
If convicted of all three, Laware could face up to 30 years in prison.
A warrant was filed for Laware’s arrest Thursday afternoon and he is expected to be arrested at the hospital within a week. Laware is recovering from multiple injuries.
County Attorney Lee Polikov said the Sheriff’s Office is figuring out how it will house Laware once he is arrested, because he still requires constant medical care.
Authorities say Laware was drunk when the crash occurred about 8 a.m. Aug. 11 near 126th and Harrison Streets.
La Vista police said his blood-alcohol content was .30, nearly four times the .08 legal limit for Nebraska drivers.
Police said Laware, westbound on Harrison Street, hit a curb, crossed the median and struck an eastbound Ford Focus driven by Dr. Adam Smith.
Smith, 33, was taking two of his three sons to school before work. He died at the scene. His sons and Laware were taken to Creighton University Medical Center in serious condition.
The boys, 8-year-old Justin and 2-year-old Spencer, have since been released from the hospital but are still recovering.
Family members have said Justin suffered a broken clavicle and rib. Spencer suffered a skull fracture, bleeding on the brain in two spots, broken orbital socket, broken clavicle and broken facial bones. Both legs were broken.
Laware was recently transferred back to Creighton after undergoing therapy at Immanuel Medical Center.
His injuries include broken ankles and feet, a shattered pelvis, broken hips, a broken collar bone and broken bones in his arms and left wrist. He has had numerous surgeries.
The filing of charges had been postponed because authorities were investigating the actions of Laware, who is originally from New Hampshire, and because of his medical condition.
James Martin Davis, Laware’s attorney, has said Laware told him that he drank alcohol the night before the crash but had gone to bed before 2 a.m.
Davis said his client told him he woke up later that morning, took a shower and was headed to work when the collision occurred.
Contact the writer:
444-1336, leia.mendoza@owh.com
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