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Highlands Today

T.K. Hill's Attorney Brings Up A Technicality

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By GARY PINNELL

Highlands Today

Published: August 23, 2008

The DUI manslaughter case against Travis Kelton Hill III could go away next week when Judge Peter Estrada rules on a motion to suppress the blood alcohol test.

Hill was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and negligent vehicular manslaughter after the Dec. 30, 2006 death of Kristin Marie Dessingue, 16, of Coconut Creek. She was a passenger in Hill's pickup truck when he lost control while traveling north on County Road 621.

Florida Highway Patrol troopers found the white truck on its right side, atop a barbed wire fence. The FHP report found Hill missed a left-hand curve and lost control.

The Ford flipped several times, and both Hill and Dessingue were ejected. Hill sustained neck and back injuries. A third passenger, Jake R. Dressel, 18, had minor injuries.

Troopers counted 47 beer cans around the accident scene. At the Lake Placid hospital where Hill was taken, a blood alcohol sample registered .179. The legal limit for an adult is .08.

Two weeks ago, Hill's attorney, Richard S. Pipkin, filed a motion to suppress the blood alcohol evidence from the Lake Placid hospital, said assistant state's attorney Steve Houchin.

Houchin thought Hill's blood was supposed to be drawn and analyzed by the Tampa hospital where he was flown by helicopter, so he subpoenaed the Lake Placid hospital for the admission and discharge summary. The hospital voluntarily sent the blood alcohol information.

The prosecution is required to share any evidence which could prove the defendant is not guilty.

"The defense's argument is that we didn't say the magic words," Houchin said. "We didn't give them the proper notice. Our position is, 'Hey, (the hospital) gave us something we didn't ask for.'"

If the Lake Placid results are suppressed, Houchin said, "Then our case is severely weakened."

Can the Tampa results be used?

"We haven't gotten that far yet," Houchin said. "But we're relatively confident. For multiple reasons."

In May, Hill's trial was put off.

Hill's attorney, Richard Pipkin, is on vacation in Connecticut, and could not be reached for comment. Last year, he said: "There are a number of things we have to take into account before we'll be ready - things like blood alcohol analysis and expert witnesses."

Hill, 20, was the starting quarterback in his junior and senior seasons at Avon Park High School. Before the accident, he was being looked at by Alabama, LSU and Florida Atlantic University.

He remains free on a $102,000 bond.

Gary Pinnell can be reached at gpinnell@highlandstoday.com or 863 386-5828

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