Scotts Valley Man Sentenced To Prison In Deadly 2017 DUI Crash

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Kristopher Benson will serve time after being convicted of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated.

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, CA — More than a year after Arizona resident Hannah Milkowski, 26, died as a result of two collisions in Santa Cruz County, the man driving her was sentenced to six years in prison, KSBW News reported. On June 4, 2017, the Scottsdale Community College nursing student was the sole passenger in a Land Rover driven by Kristopher Benson.

Milkowski was not wearing her seatbelt when Benson made a slight left on Bean Creek Road, striking a power pole with the right side of the Land Rover, just past Morgan's Run outside Scotts Valley. Benson tried to drive to a medical facility to get help for Milkowski, heading south on state Highway 17, and then speeding down state Highway 1 with a damaged right tire. The Land Rover traveled onto the center island and became disabled on the sweeping right curve of the Soquel Avenue off-ramp in Live Oak, CHP officers said.

CHP officers and paramedics provided first aid, transporting Milkowski to Santa Clara Valley Medical Center in San Jose. Benson, who was wearing a seatbelt, was treated for minor injuries at VMC before being arrested on suspicion of felony DUI. Read the full KSBW News story here.

Bay City News contributed to this report