Man Involved In Fatal Drag Race Eight Years Ago In Trouble Over Driving Again, Has License Revoked

On August 25, a man from Raleigh who was involved in an Interstate 540 drag race eight years ago in which four teenagers died of the personal injuries they suffered pleaded guilty to drunken driving and had his license revoked.

After pleading guilty, 25-year-old Chris Petersen was sentenced to six months in jail, which was suspended to 18 months on probation. The incident the charges came from occurred on May 9.

Petersen is planning to appeal the sentence, claiming he needs to be able to drive.

Te case is Petersen’s latest legal trouble related to his driving.

In June 2004, Petersen pleaded guilty to four misdemeanor death by vehicle charges and one excessive speed charge in connection with a crash in May 30, 2001 in which Bryan Reaves, Jamie Brewer, Mike Smith, and Matthew Yurcak died.

According to prosecutors in that case, Petersen was racing with the teens with the crash occurred. The defense argued that the tens weren’t racing and Petersen was not responsible for the deaths.

As part of his probation, Petersen was barred from driving for three years. He later served 90 days in prison after he drove, violating his probation.

Petersen received a 45-day suspended jail sentence and one year of probation for a hit-and-run incident in 2008.