FRESNO, Calif. - Nicholas Moser, 25, was sentenced today four years and four months in prison by United States District Judge Lawrence J. O’Neill for involuntary manslaughter and driving under the influence of alcohol, United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced.
According to court documents, Moser was intoxicated when he lost control and rolled his truck near Cedar Grove, in the Kings Canyon National Park. The incident occurred during the early morning hours of Saturday, Aug. 31, 2013, the first day of the Labor Day weekend. Three of Moser’s passengers, who were sitting in the rear of his truck, were ejected, causing the death of Thomas Wefald and serious injuries to the other two. Another passenger in the cab was also injured, as was Moser.
Moser and others drank alcohol and smoked marijuana before Moser drove the group several miles from Cedar Grove to Muir Rock, located at the end of Highway 180, where they remained for about a half an hour. The accident occurred shortly after Moser began the return trip to Cedar Grove.
This case was the product of an investigation by the National Park Service. Assistant United States Attorney Michael Frye prosecuted the case.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
