The driver of a vehicle that struck and seriously injured a Stroud youth who was driving a motorcycle in July of 2022 has entered guilty pleas to each of the charges and he has drawn three deferred sentences..
A felony charge was filed in Lincoln County District Court on July 19, 2022 against Hank Willam Hunziker, 51, of Drumright for driving under the influence of alcohol with a BAC of .08 or more causing great bodily harm.
Hunziker also faced misdemeanor counts of transporting an open container of alcoholic beverage and following too closely.
On Dec. 15, 2022 he waived his right to a preliminary hearing.
Appearing for his arraignment before District Judge Traci Soderstrom, he pleaded not guilty.
However, last week, again appearing before Judge Soderstrom, Hunziker entered the three guilty pleas as the result of a plea bargain agreement.
The judge found Hunziker guilty as charged on each of the three counts. The state and defendant waived a presentence investigation.
On the felony charge, Judge Soderstrom handed Hunziker a seven-year deferred sentence, a $100 judicial assessment; a $100 VCA and court costs.
On Count 2, a misdemeanor, he was given a one-year deferred sentence, a $100 judicial assessment; a $100 VCA and court costs.
She handed him a one-year deferred sentence on Count 3, a $50 judicial assessment, $35 VCA and court costs and ordered the sentences to run concurrent with each other.
The judge also instructed him to complete a drug and alcohol assessment and complete all recommended follow up treatment, to attend a victim impact panel, pay 991C fees, perform 100 hours of Community Service for each count for a total of 300 hours within two years.
Judge Soderstrom placed Hunziker on supervised probation with Oklahoma Court Services and ordered him to report to the probation office. He is to pay court costs at the rate of $100 per month beginning May 1, 2023 and each month following and to reappear for cost review at 1 p.m. on Oct. 31, 2023.
The day of the collision the 15-yearold Stroud youth, who wasn’t identified due to his age, was transported to St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa and reportedly suffered injuries to his spine and neck area.
The DUI charge accused Hunziker on July 11, 2022 of causing an accident at SH 99 and 850 Road in the city of Stroud in which T.W., 15, suffered a bilateral sacral fracture, a concussion with loss of consciousness of 30 minutes or less and compression facture of T4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 vertebra while Hunziker was driving/operating a 2011 Infinity Gaw automobile under the influence of alcohol.
The unlawfully transporting an open container of alcoholic beverage charges Hunziker with operating a vehicle with an open can of beer.
The second misdemeanor charges him with following too closely the motorcycle operated by the 15-year-old youth, closer than was reasonable and prudent.
The collision occurred around 9:30 p.m. on Monday, July 11, at SH 99 and E. 850 Road.
Stroud Police Chief Gaylord said Officers Levi Bruder and Rickasha Gilley investigated the collision and they determined the motorcycle was northbound on SH 99 and making a right turn to go east on E 850 Road, when the 2011 Infiniti passenger car driven by Hunzicker, which also was northbound, struck the rear of the motorcycle causing the crash.
Sac and Fox Nation Officer Russell Sentel also assisted the Stroud police officers.
The chief noted that Hunziker told the officers he had drunk “3 Tall Boy beers and the remainder of the beer was in the car.” He reportedly also told officers the blood alcohol test he had agreed to submit to would probably show that he was intoxicated.