Posted August 22, 2023 06:22am
(KNZA)--A jury trial has been set for a Kansas City, Missouri man charged in connection with a head-on collision last November in Jefferson County that claimed the life of a Kansas Air National Guard airman.
According to court documents, Manuel Enriquez pleaded not guilty last week in Jefferson County District Court to a felony count of involuntary manslaughter while driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and misdemeanor count of DUI.
A three-day jury trial was set beginning January 24, 2024.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reports Enriquez was driving a pickup truck on U.S. 24 Highway on November 12 when he crossed the center line and collided head-on with a car driven by 23-year-old Cheyanne Branson, of Diana, Texas.
Branson was pronounced dead at the scene. Enriquez was not hurt.
Branson served as a career development specialist with the Topeka-based 190th Air Refueling Wing for more than four years.
Enriquez remains free on a $150,000 bond.