Prosecutors upgrade manslaughter charge in Jefferson City crash

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) -

Prosecutors in Cole County have upgraded the manslaughter charge against a man accused of hitting someone with his car in Jefferson City.

Assistant Prosecutor Edward Guinn filed an amended complaint on Friday against Diego Popp of Jefferson City. Popp is now charged with first-degree involuntary manslaughter, upgraded from the second-degree involuntary manslaughter he originally faced in July.

Popp is accused of hitting 50-year-old John Brummit on Highway 50 West around 11 p.m. on July 14. Police said that Brummit was riding a bicycle on the shoulder of the highway when Popp hit him and drove away. Popp allegedly told officers the next day that he did not stay because he was afraid of getting in trouble for being "drunk" at the time of the crash. Officers found Brummit's around 6:30 a.m. the day after the crash.

The upgraded charge adds the allegation that Popp "recklessly" caused Brummit's death because he was impaired at the time of the crash. First-degree involuntary manslaughter is a class C felony, which carries a punishment range of 3 to 10 years. Second-degree involuntary manslaughter is a class E felony, which carries a maximum sentence of 4 years in prison.

Popp also faces charges for leaving the scene of a crash and driving in a careless and imprudent manner. Popp does not have a new court date set yet.