A 28-year-old Salem man pleaded guilty in Marion County Court Friday to aggravated reckless driving in connection with a May 2023 fatal crash on the west side of Salem.
Derrik Coomer of East Boone was charged with traveling at an excessive speed while pursuing a companion.
The car driven by his companion, 22-year-old Justin Bullard of Iuka, earlier was found guilty of murder in connection with a fiery crash at West Main and Hotze Road that claimed the life of 66-year-old Nita Mobley of Salem.
Coomer was sentenced to 18 months probation and ordered to forfeit any bond above court costs to Mobley’s wife, Mike, to go towards a more than $3-million civil court default judgement entered against Coomer in connection with the crash. State’s Attorney Tim Hudspeth says Coomer had $8,000 in bond money posted. About $6,750 will go to Mobley.
Hudspeth says he knows many felt Coomer should have been charged with a higher level felony, but he said the facts of the case didn’t fall into any more serious felony.
Coomer was scheduled to go on trial next Tuesday.
