Driver in Fatal SDSU Crash Given Probation

A 20-year-old San Diego State University student has been sentenced to three years’ probation for a fiery accident on Interstate 5 in central California in which three SDSU rowing team members were killed.

Joseph Farrage was the driver of a van that crashed May 11 in the San Joaquin Valley while carrying the crew team home from a meet in Sacramento.

Ten other athletes in the van were injured, including Farrage.

Farrage had been charged with three felony counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence. The charges were reduced to misdemeanors in a plea bargain agreement with the Merced County district attorney’s office.

Farrage pleaded no contest to the charges Friday and was sentenced in Merced County Municipal Court. In addition to probation, he was ordered to perform 120 hours of community service.

If he had been convicted on the felony counts, Farrage would have faced up to four years in state prison on each count.

Bill Hunter, Merced County deputy district attorney, told the newspaper that he agreed to the plea bargain because Farrage had a favorable probation report and no criminal record. Also, parents of the students who were killed said they did not want Farrage punished, he said.