Driver in Vianney Student Manslaughter Case Out On Bail

A California man accused of manslaughter in the crash that killed former student Clayton Pfeiffer (class of 2011), will have his case back in a St. Louis County Circuit courtroom August 30.

Dale Kawamura, 36, surrendered July 11 in California and posted bond July 12. Bail was reduced from $75,000 to $50,000, according to court records, and he posted $2,500 cash.

Two weeks ago, on July 26, Kawamura's lawyer made a motion to supress all admissions, confessions, and physical evidence in the case.

The out-of-state arrest stems from a February 21 fatal head-on crash with Pfeiffer's car on Olive Boulevard in Chesterfield near Creve Coeur Mill Road.

Police said Kawamura was at the wheel of an eastbound SUV that crossed into oncoming traffic, clipped a truck, and hit Pfeiffer's car—killing him.

Chesterfield Police Chief Ray Johnson told Patch in June that lab tests revealed methamphetamine in Kawamura's bloodstream at the time of the crash—about 10:30 a.m. on a weekday. Kawamura's passenger, also from California, broke an arm.

Kawamura is charged with two felonies:

1. Involuntary 1st-degree vehicular manslaughter with intoxication, and death of a nonpassenger, blood alcohol .18% or more
2. Assault 2nd-degree, operating a vehicle while intoxicated resulting in injury.

Pfeiffer was taken to hospital but declared dead. He was expected to play baseball this past Spring at Missouri Baptist.

The two California men were treated at a local hopsital and released. A third man driving the truck apparently was not injured, police said.

Read related Patch stories: