Kimball Charged, Calls News Conference Today

Bruce Kimball is expected to announce today whether he will compete at the U.S. Olympic diving trials because of alcohol-related manslaughter charges filed against him Monday in Florida.

Kimball scheduled a news conference today at Indianapolis where the trials will run from Wednesday through Sunday at the University of Indiana Natatorium.

Kimball, 25, faces charges stemming from an Aug. 1 traffic accident that left two teen-agers dead and six others injured in Brandon, Fla.

Kimball, a 1984 silver medalist, could not be reached for comment Monday.

Barb McLaughlin, assistant director for U.S. Diving, Inc., said that Kimball has earned the right to compete and that U.S. Diving has no rule that would disqualify him because of the incident.

“We haven’t learned anything new,” she said. “At this point, the judicial process will have to run its course and, depending on the outcome, U.S. Diving will act accordingly.”

Kimball admitted drinking at least four beers before the accident, which occurred when his speeding car crashed into a crowd at a popular teen-age hangout, authorities said.

The Hillsborough State Attorney’s office in Tampa Monday charged Kimball with two counts of driving under the influence-manslaughter, a second-degree felony, and three counts of driving under the influence with serious personal injuries, a third-degree felony.

State Attorney Bill James has declined to release results of blood-alcohol tests on Kimball. However, the charges indicate Kimball’s blood-alcohol level exceeded 0.10%, the legal level of intoxication.

Arraignment was scheduled for Aug. 26. Kimball could face a maximum sentence of 45 years in prison.