PHOENIX—Kevin Richard Hevel (D.O.B. 10/22/1986) was sentenced to 16 years in the Department of Corrections for 2nd Degree Murder in connection with a fatal DUI crash.
“There is absolutely no excuse for someone to drive impaired and risk the safety of others with so many transportation options available today. The defendant's murder of Peter Rankin was senseless and the conviction and sentence for Hevel's selfish decision illustrates our resolve to do all we can to deter impaired driving due to alcohol and/or drugs,” said Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery.
On September 22, 2017 police received multiple 911 calls that a man was driving erratically and was believed to be intoxicated near 95th and Glendale Avenues. As the defendant continued to drive along Glendale Avenue he drove off the roadway and struck 61-year-old Peter Rankin who was riding his bicycle on the sidewalk. Rankin was hit with enough force to throw his body into a nearby light pole causing fatal injuries. The defendant then continued to drive away from the area and collided with a marked police car.
The defendant admitted to officers at the scene that he had “a lot to drink” and later was found to have a blood alcohol level of 0.235.