Daredevil Motorcyclist Arrested In April For Illegal Stunts Wrecks Corvette In Oakland; 1 Dead
OAKLAND (CBS SF) -- A motorcyclist arrested by the California Highway Patrol in April for speeding excessively and performing stunts on the freeway in Oakland is accused of drunk driving and killing his friend in a crash last week, according to authorities.
23-year-old San Leandro resident Corey McDonah pleaded no contest to reckless driving in May and was sentenced to three years probation, 20 days with the sheriff's work squad and community service.
A CHP airplane spotted McDonah speeding on his motorcycle along Interstates 80 and 580 at more than 100 miles an hour, weaving in and out of traffic, popping wheelies and performing other stunts on April 2. McDonah was tracked to his home where he was arrested.
On Friday, McDonah was driving his silver Corvette while under the influence, wrecking his car and sending him and his passenger to the hospital with major injuries, according the CHP Oakland Facebook page.
The crash happened early Friday morning also along Interstate 580 in Oakland near Park Boulevard.
CHP Officer Sean Wilkenfeld said McDonah's passenger was ejected from the 1999 Corvette and found unconscious on the roadway. Neither was wearing seatbelts, said Wilkenfeld.
The passenger, identified as 25-year-old Nicholas Obenchain, was pronounced dead Monday evening, the Alameda County Coroner told KPIX 5.
A DUI investigation at the scene determined McDonah was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident, said Wilkenfeld.
After his April plea deal, KPIX 5 asked McDonah what he learned from the incident. "That Big Brother is always watching. I don't know."
It now appears McDonah may have learned his lesson the hard way. "The goal is to change someone's behavior, every time we make a stop," said Wilkenfeld. "In this case it didn't happen. And unfortunately someone was hurt. Major injuries."
McDonah is under arrest on suspicion of DUI and remains in the hospital Monday night. He is expected to face felony charges for the death of his passenger.
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Friends of Obenchain have set up a GoFundMe.com fund for the victim's family, with several hundred dollars raised already.
