A man was sentenced to a little under three years in prison in for a Dec. 2021 vehicular homicide on 15th Street in Auburn.

On May 23, King County Superior Court Judge Paul Crisalli sentenced Ronnie Darnell Franklin Jr., 28, to 34 months in the Washington State Department of Corrections for the charge of vehicular homicide. He additionally received a 12-month sentence for vehicular assault that will run at the same time as the 34-month sentence. Crisalli will receive credit for time served of 75 days.

Franklin’s charge of vehicular homicide stems from a Dec. 6, 2021, incident in which Kendra Green, 22, died from the result of a crash. Charging documents state that Franklin and she were on a date when he was allegedly driving 84 mph westbound near the northbound ramp to State Route 167 on 15th Street in Auburn when he lost control and slammed into a trailer. Documents state the posted speed limit was 35 mph.

Franklin’s vehicular assault charge stems from Franklin allegedly causing a rear passenger, 24, who was a family member of Green’s, to fracture both of her legs in the Dec. 6, 2021, crash. According to documents, the rear passenger survived the crash, and she gave a statement to the judge at Franklin’s sentencing hearing.

According to documents, Franklin’s sentencing range, given his offender score of two, was between 26 and 34 months in prison. Documents state that Franklin’s offender score was a two because of the concurrent vehicular assault charge, and he did not have any other convictions on his record. Documents state that the defense and the prosecution agreed to recommend 34 months in custody.

According to the defense, Franklin was left with a traumatic brain injury following the crash, which has caused him issues with maintaining long-term employment. Additionally, he was left with several broken bones, and it took him well over two years to relearn how to walk.

“Mr. Franklin is very remorseful for the loss of life and suffering he caused the victims and their family,” the pre-sentencing report states. “He does not remember the events of this tragic accident and continues to struggle with short-term memory loss and continued physical pain.”

Details of the incident

According to documents, at 7:05 p.m. Dec. 6, 2021, Auburn Police Department officers responded to the report of a collision involving a silver sedan and a semi-tractor trailer in the area of 15th Street Northwest and the northbound on-ramp to State Route 167 in Auburn. Documents state that officers found a silver 2015 Audi A4 had collided with the right rear trailer axles of a tractor-trailer, sustaining severe damage to its front end.

According to documents, the driver of the trailer stated he was turning left to go north onto SR 167 during a steady, solid green signal when the Audi struck the axles.

According to documents, officers located a passenger in the right rear of the vehicle who suffered severe injuries, including two broken legs. Documents state that the front right passenger, Green, suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene by medics.

A witness said that he was driving westbound on 15th Street when he was cut off by Franklin, who had also cut off several other vehicles and was traveling at speeds of 60 to 70 mph. Documents state that the witness said that Franklin then “flew by him.”

“[The witness] walked over and held Kendra’s hand until medical aid arrived,” according to documents. “[The witness] said Kendra told him she couldn’t breathe.”

Another witness stated that she saw the Audi traveling at 60 or 70 mph before it collided with the semi, according to documents. She said it looked like Franklin was trying to swerve at the last moment before the impact, but it was too late.

According to documents, the rear right passenger said that on the day of the crash, she, Green and Franklin were heading back to her and Green’s home in Federal Way after eating at a buffet in Auburn. The passenger said that Franklin was traveling at speeds that felt too fast, and she thought Franklin was showing off.

Documents state the passenger told Franklin to slow down, and she said she got nervous, but didn’t know how to stop him. She said right before the crash, Franklin tried to brake and swerve, but it was too late.

According to documents, crash data retrieved from the car showed Franklin traveling 83 mph one and a half seconds before impact and 53 mph at impact.