A Hastings man facing multiple charges in relation to a fatal crash last year has taken a plea deal.
According to Adams County District Court records, Anthony Pingel, 32, pled no contest Monday two counts of manslaughter, two counts of third-degree assault and one count of DUI (with a blood alcohol content level of .08).
In exchange for his plea, prosecutors amended two counts of motor vehicle homicide to two counts of manslaughter, a charge of DUI (with a BAC level of greater than .15). An additional charge of contempt of court was dismissed.
The charges stem from a Dec. 12, 2021, crash east of Hastings that killed two teens – Victoria Fleming, 16, of Superior, and Tristen Owens, 18, of Hastings.
Pingel was believed to have been under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash.
He is scheduled to appear in Adams County District Court for sentencing at 1 p.m. Dec. 5. Pingel faces a maximum of 20 years imprisonment on each manslaughter charge and one year in prison on the assault charge.